Abstract:

This study examines the relation between human development and Internet penetration rate and investigates the possible existence of a digital divide between developed and developing countries. Furthermore, it explores how the growth of the Internet penetration rate in developed countries is faster than that of developing countries. UNDP’s Human Development Index is used to measure human development level, while Internet penetration rate is represented by the percentage of Internet user in the entire population of a country. The result of this study supports the argument that a digital divide exists because of this disparity in Internet penetration rates.