Average Screen Time by Country
How many hours a day people actually spend on screens, country by country — from the most-cited dataset in the field, with the methodology and its limits stated plainly instead of buried.
The global average is 6h 38m a day. South Africa is highest at 9h 37m; Japan is lowest at 4h 09m.
That’s the average. What drives your own number is personal — Unwire helps you find the cause and change it.
Start free on iOS Start free on Android| Country | Per day | vs avg. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 9h 37m | +45% | |
| Brazil | 9h 09m | +38% | |
| Philippines | 8h 52m | +34% | |
| Russia | 8h 38m | +30% | |
| Egypt | 7h 26m | +12% | |
| United States | 6h 40m | +1% | |
| World average | 6h 38m | — | |
| Spain | 5h 40m | -15% | |
| United Kingdom | 5h 36m | -16% | |
| Hong Kong | 5h 29m | -17% | |
| Germany | 5h 28m | -18% | |
| Greece | 5h 21m | -19% | |
| Denmark | 5h 10m | -22% | |
| Japan | 4h 09m | -37% |
The headline numbers
- The global average is 6 hours and 38 minutes of connected screen time per day — about 40% of a 16-hour waking day.
- That splits into roughly 3h 46m on mobile and 2h 52m on computers.
- South Africa and Brazil top the ranking at more than nine hours a day, with the Philippines close behind; several other Latin American countries — Colombia, Argentina, Chile — also rank near the top.
- Japan consistently posts the lowest figure in the ranking, at 4 hours 9 minutes a day — less than half the leaders.
- Wealthier East Asian and Northern European countries generally cluster below the global average; emerging markets with young, mobile-first populations cluster above it.
What this actually measures — and what it doesn't
These figures come from GWI's ongoing global survey of internet users aged 16–64, as compiled in DataReportal's annual Digital reports. They measure time spent using the internet across all devices — the closest thing to a standardized, globally comparable "screen time" number that exists. Two honest caveats. First, it's self-reported survey data, and people are poor estimators of their own screen time; device-logged data typically comes out different (usually higher for phones). Second, it excludes offline screen use like broadcast TV and offline gaming, so total screen exposure is higher than these numbers in most countries.
You'll see other rankings online with different values — most differences come down to what's being measured (mobile only, online media only, all screens) and which survey wave is cited. Always check the definition before comparing numbers across sources; it's the most common way screen time statistics get mangled.
Compare yourself
Your phone already logs your real number: Settings → Screen Time on iOS, Digital Wellbeing on Android. Check your daily average, then see what it adds up to with our screen time cost calculator — or take the 10-question phone addiction self-test to see whether your use pattern is chosen or compulsive. If the answer stings, start with how to reduce screen time without willpower.
Sources
- DataReportal, Digital 2025: Global Overview Report (GWI survey data, internet users aged 16–64).
- Comparitech, Screen Time Statistics: Average Screen Time by Country (compiled from DataReportal, updated March 2025).
- Telefónica, How much time do we spend on our digital lives? (citing Digital 2025 country figures).
Page last reviewed: July 2026. Figures reflect the Digital 2025 reporting cycle; we update this page when new report waves are published.
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest screen time in the world?
South Africa has the highest average screen time in the world at 9 hours 37 minutes a day, followed by Brazil at 9h 09m and the Philippines at 8h 52m. These figures measure time spent using the internet across all devices for internet users aged 16-64, from GWI survey data compiled in DataReportal's Digital 2025 Global Overview Report.
Which country has the lowest screen time?
Japan consistently posts the lowest figure in the ranking at 4 hours 9 minutes a day - less than half the daily screen time of the leaders. Wealthier East Asian and Northern European countries generally cluster below the global average.
What is the average screen time per day worldwide?
The global average is 6 hours and 38 minutes of connected screen time per day, or about 40% of a 16-hour waking day. That splits into roughly 3h 46m on mobile devices and 2h 52m on computers.
How much screen time does the average American have?
The United States averages 6 hours 40 minutes a day, placing it just above the global average of 6h 38m and well below the highest-ranking countries such as South Africa, Brazil and the Philippines.
Why do other screen time rankings show different numbers?
Most differences come down to what is being measured - mobile only, online media only, or all screens - and which survey wave is cited. The figures here measure time spent using the internet across all devices for internet users aged 16-64, so they are not directly comparable with rankings that count only phone use.