Average Internet Speeds by Country 2026

Global rankings

Key findings

• Singapore and South Korea lead globally — both have national fiber initiatives with near-100% FTTH coverage, delivering symmetric speeds above 250 Mbps on average.
• Spain outperforms the US — aggressive FTTH rollout by Movistar and Orange has made Spain one of the fastest European markets, with average symmetry above 230 Mbps both ways.
• The US trails peer nations on upload — an average upload of 20 Mbps reflects the cable-dominant US market. Countries with symmetric fiber averages (France, Japan, South Korea) see upload within 10% of download.
• Sub-Saharan Africa is mobile-first — Nigeria, South Africa, and similar markets rely on LTE and 5G fixed wireless; average speeds are lower but reflect what the infrastructure delivers reliably.

Methodology

Results represent the median wired Ethernet test from SpeedTestHQ users over a rolling 90-day window, attributed to country by IP geolocation. Mobile tests excluded. Countries with fewer than 5,000 wired test samples in the period are omitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has the fastest internet in the world?

Singapore ranks #1 globally with an average download speed of 262 Mbps and upload of 255 Mbps. Singapore's National Broadband Network (NGNBN) provides near-universal fiber-to-the-home access, with multiple competing ISPs driving speeds and prices. South Korea (258 Mbps) and France (236 Mbps) follow closely behind.

How does the US compare to other countries in internet speed?

The US ranks 3rd on download speed at 195 Mbps, which sounds impressive — but its 20 Mbps average upload tells a different story. Countries like France (228 Mbps upload), Japan (210 Mbps), and South Korea (220 Mbps) deliver symmetric fiber speeds that dwarf the US average. The cable-dominated US market structurally limits upload performance compared to fiber-first nations.

Why does Spain rank so high while larger countries like Germany and the UK rank lower?

Spain (245 Mbps download, 238 Mbps upload) has aggressively deployed FTTH through Movistar and Orange, achieving one of Europe's highest fiber penetration rates. Germany (178 Mbps) and the UK (185 Mbps) still rely heavily on hybrid-fiber cable and FTTC, which explains the gap. Investment policy and competition structure matter more than country size.

What is the minimum internet speed considered "broadband" globally?

The US FCC raised its broadband threshold to 100/20 Mbps in 2024. The ITU's international standard is 10 Mbps. In practical terms, Nigeria at 22 Mbps and Indonesia at 42 Mbps are technically below what most developed economies consider a baseline. Countries still reliant on LTE and 5G fixed wireless for home internet remain well below the speeds delivered by fiber-first nations.