Dark Web Statistics By Revenue, Demographic, Network Users, Usage and Facts
Updated · Jan 07, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Editor’s Choice
- General Dark Web Statistics
- Key Trends of Dark Web Statistics
- Dark Web Statistics By Country
- Dark Web Demographic Statistics
- Tor Network Users Statistics
- Average Price of Malware and DDoS Attack Services for Sale on the Dark Web
- Dark Web Intelligence Revenue Statistics
- Industries at High Risk Due to Dark Web Consequences
- Challenges Faced Due to Dark Web
- Data Breaches Statistics on the Dark Web
- Future Initiatives of Dark Web Statistics
- Conclusion
Introduction
Dark Web Statistics: The dark web is a hidden part of the Internet that isn’t easily accessible to the Public. It’s often linked with illegal activities and used for privacy and security purposes. The dark web has grown in recent years, and so has interest in understanding its impact.
Statistics reveal fascinating insights about its use, such as the amount of illegal content, cybercrime trends, and even marketplaces for stolen data. However, not everything on the dark web is unlawful.
In recent years, many individuals have used it for freedom of expression in countries with strict censorship. Exploring these numbers helps us understand the dark web better and its role in today’s digital world, both positively and negatively.
Editor’s Choice
- The Dark Web Intelligence Market was valued at USD 520.3 million in 2023, and by 2032, it will reach up to USD 2,921.8 million, with an annual growth rate of 21.8%.
- The Dark Web is believed to be 5,000 times larger than the visible Internet.
- Every day, more than 2.5 million people visit the Dark Web.
- Around 60% of its websites are used for illegal purposes, generating about USD 1.5 billion in illegal profits yearly.
- Bitcoin is the main currency for transactions, making up 98% of payments.
- Dark Web Statistics state that about 30,000 active hidden services are running on the Dark Web.
- The United States accounts for 60% of weapon sales on the dark web, followed by Europe with 25%.
- Approximately 60 of the largest websites on the dark web have a combined size of more than 750 TB.
- 7 out of 10 requests on the dark web are related to individuals seeking contact with criminals.
- Qwerty and 123456 are among the most commonly leaked passwords on the dark web.
- The global dark web market is expected to reach USD 1.3 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.3%.
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General Dark Web Statistics
- The Dark Web constitutes approximately 5% of the entire Internet.
- An estimated 500,000 individuals regularly access Dark Web marketplaces.
- Approximately 543 million assets linked to Fortune 1000 employees are available on the Dark Web.
- Cloned credit cards with PINs are sold for about USD 25, while stolen PayPal account details with a minimum of USD 100 balance are priced around USD 30.
- Dark Web Statistics show that about 56.8% of the Dark Web’s content is used for illegal activities.
- In 2023, the Dark Web had roughly 2.5 million visitors every day.
- Similarly, only 28% of people in BRICS countries know about the Dark Web.
- You can buy 1,000 high-grade malware attacks on the Dark Web for USD 5,000.
- Ransomware-related data breaches have doubled each year over the past two years, indicating a growing threat.
- Dark Web Statistics further show that the average person has over 100 passwords, many of which are reused across multiple accounts.
- A complete set of personal information sufficient for identity theft can be purchased for just over USD 1,000.
- Bitcoin remains the most accepted cryptocurrency on the Dark Web, though others like Litecoin and Dash are also gaining acceptance.
Key Trends of Dark Web Statistics
(Source: vpnranks.com)
- By the end of 2024, VPNRanks predicts that 1 in 5 people using dark web monitoring services may discover their personal information there.
- Interest in the term “dark web” on Google is expected to rise, with a search rate of about 56.41.
- Personal data records exposed on the dark web could hit 703.8 million, a 25-30% increase from last year.
- Lower-value data prices will drop 10%, while high-value data prices, such as banking logins, could rise by 5-10%.
- Illegal file sharing and financial fraud may grow by 30%, and the dark web market may reach USD 630 million.
- As of now, daily Tor users may exceed 5 million.
Dark Web Statistics By Country
- Approximately 34.81% of global Dark Web users are from the United States, equating to around 831,911 individuals.
Moreover, other countries with Dark Web users shares in 2024 are detailed in the table below:
| Country | User Share |
| India | 26% |
| Brazil | 21% |
| Indonesia | 20% |
| Turkey | 16% |
| Russia | 11.46% |
| Germany | 7.16% |
| Netherlands | 6.92% |
| France | 3.29% |
By Largest Marketplaces
(Reference: sp-ao.shortpixel.ai)
- As mentioned in Dark Web Statistics, Blacksprut is the biggest marketplace on the Dark Web, with a 28% market share.
- In 2024, the Mega Darknet Market will follow with 22%, while OMG! OMG! The Market controls 17% of the share.
- Followed by Solaris Market (13%), ASAP Market (7%), and others (13%).
By Categories
- Dark Web Statistics in 2024 show that almost 29% of the Dark Web’s content is dedicated to illegal file sharing, which facilitates the distribution of pirated software, media, and other unauthorized materials.
Furthermore, other categories of dark web shares in 2024 are stated below:
| Category | Dark Web Content Share |
| Leaked Data | 28% |
| Financial Fraud | 12% |
| News media | 10% |
| Promotions | 6% |
| Discussion forum | 5% |
| Drugs | 4% |
| Hacked accounts | 3% |
| Pornography | 1% |
| Weapons | 0.30% |
Dark Web Demographic Statistics
- Dark Web Statistics show that the majority of users (84.7%) are men, while only 9.4% are women.
- People aged 36 to 45 make up the largest group of users, at 23.5%.
- 8% of users are younger adults aged 18 to 25, and 5.9% are aged 46 to 55.
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Tor Network Users Statistics
(Source: statista.com)
- On October 26, 2024, around 1.95 million people used the Tor browser.
- Its highest daily use, over nine million, occurred on October 21, 2023.
Based daily, the above graph elaborates that the mean daily number of Tor network users connecting in 2024 is detailed in the table below:
| Date | Number of Users |
| January 1 |
3,864,305 |
|
January 30 |
5,950,620 |
| February 1 |
6,096,086 |
|
February 28 |
3,710,298 |
| March 2 |
4,534,339 |
| March 30 | 4,800,848 |
|
April 1 |
4,278,220 |
| April 28 |
4,005,954 |
|
May 1 |
3,355,327 |
| May 31 |
1,936,106 |
|
June 1 |
1,880,852 |
| June 30 |
1,915,613 |
|
July 1 |
1,922,037 |
| July 31 |
1,989,455 |
|
August 3 |
1,990,964 |
| August 30 |
2,140,245 |
|
September 3 |
2,141,627 |
| September 29 |
1,887,593 |
|
October 1 |
1,505,597 |
| October 26 |
1,959,898 |
Average Price of Malware and DDoS Attack Services for Sale on the Dark Web
- High-quality malware attacks are available for approximately USD 4,500 per 1,000 installations.
- Dark Web Statistics show that the cost of DDoS attacks varies based on duration and target protection.
- For unprotected websites, prices start around USD 10 for an hour-long attack, escalating to USD 850 for a month-long assault.
- Attacks targeting protected websites can command higher fees, with some services charging up to USD 200 for 24 hours.
- Bundles of 1,000 threat installs, encompassing both malware and DDoS capabilities, are sold for about USD 1,800.
Dark Web Intelligence Revenue Statistics
(Reference: statista.com)
- Dark Web Statistics in 2024 show that the dark web intelligence market will be worth USD 619.1 million by the end of 2032 and may grow to USD 2,921.8 million.
- Furthermore, in the coming years, globally, the dark web intelligence market revenue is estimated to be in 2025 (USD 789.5 million), 2026 (USD 984.1 million), 2027 (USD 1,170.9 million), 2028 (USD 1,328 million), 2029 (USD 1,617.5 million), 2030 (USD 1,924.5 million) and 2031 (USD 2,344.1 million).
Industries at High Risk Due to Dark Web Consequences
(Source: blog.usecure.io)
- Dark Web Statistics further shows that in 2024, the retail sector will be at the most risk, with a share of 30%, followed by the Information and technology sector (23%) and the Financial sector (22%).
- In addition, the Public (11%), the Internet (7%), the Internet (3%), Healthcare (2%), and Consumer Entertainment are the industries most threatened by the dark web(2%).
Challenges Faced Due to Dark Web
| Challenges | Share |
| Lack of system or browser isolation, placing a system at risk of compromise |
15.7% |
|
No training or experience in dark web investigations |
14.2% |
| Lack of support from the organization |
13.5% |
|
Difficulty in finding relevant information on the dark web |
12.5% |
| No ability to manage attribution |
11.2% |
|
No separate network to conduct dark web investigations |
10.5% |
| Not enough internal resources to conduct dark web investigations with regularity |
10.5% |
Data Breaches Statistics on the Dark Web
- In April 2024, National Public Data, a data broker company, suffered a breach affecting approximately 2.9 billion records.
- At the same time, AT&T reported unauthorized access to records from about 109 million customer accounts.
- MediSecure, an electronic prescription service in Australia, experienced a breach impacting 12.9 million individuals.
Future Initiatives of Dark Web Statistics
- Monthly ransomware blog posts are projected to increase from an average of 476 in 2023 to over 500 in 2024.
- Incidents involving stealer malware, which extracts sensitive information like login credentials, are anticipated to rise by 30%.
- Cybercriminals are expected to intensify the use of search engine ads to disseminate malware, leading to a projected 25% increase in such deceptive practices.
- The demand for crypto-drainer services, which illicitly drain funds from cryptocurrency wallets, is forecasted to surge by 40%, driven by the sustained interest in digital assets.
- Services offering malware designed to evade antivirus detection are expected to grow by 35%.
- Loader services, which deliver malicious software onto systems, are projected to evolve. Their use is anticipated to increase by 20%.
- Services that obscure cryptocurrency transaction trails are expected to undergo dynamic changes, and their use is projected to increase by 15%.
Conclusion
The Dark Web always remained a mysterious part of the Internet that offers both opportunities and dangers. While it supports privacy and free speech, it’s also known as a hub for illegal activities. People should be cautious, stay informed, and avoid engaging in unlawful practices of the dark web.
Ultimately, this article on the Dark Web claimed that this is an effective tool and covered all its impact depending on how it’s used. Education and ethical behavior can help balance its potential risks and benefits.
FAQ.
The Dark Web itself is not illegal, but many activities on it are unlawful.
The Deep Web includes hidden but legal content, while the Dark Web is a secretive part often linked to illegal activities.
The Dark Web offers illegal goods, stolen data, anonymous services, and secret communication channels.
People access the Dark Web using special browsers like Tor, ensuring privacy and anonymous connections.
Avoid illegal activities, sharing personal information, downloading unknown files, and trusting suspicious websites or users.
Barry Elad is a tech enthusiast passionate about exploring various technology topics. He collects key statistics and facts to make tech easier to understand. Barry focuses on software and its benefits for everyday life. In his free time, he enjoys creating healthy recipes, practicing yoga, meditating, and walking in nature with his child. Barry's mission is to simplify complex tech information for everyone.
