Global use of artificial intelligence continued to rise in the second half of 2025, but adoption levels vary widely across countries, with sharp gaps between advanced digital economies and developing markets, according to data from Microsoft.

Microsoft’s Global AI Adoption in 2025 report shows that about 16.1 percent of the world’s working-age population used AI tools during the period, indicating steady growth but also significant untapped potential. Adoption averaged 24.7 percent in the Global North, compared with 14.1 percent in the Global South, highlighting a persistent digital divide.

The United Arab Emirates ranked first globally, with 64 percent of its working-age population using AI in H2 2025. The UAE also recorded one of the fastest growth rates, with adoption rising by 4.6 percentage points compared with the first half of the year. Singapore followed closely at 60.9 percent, reflecting years of early investment in AI infrastructure, governance frameworks, and public-sector deployment.

Several European countries also ranked high. Norway placed third globally with 46.4 percent adoption, followed by Ireland (44.6 percent) and France (44.0 percent). Spain, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Qatar rounded out the top ten, underscoring Europe’s relatively strong integration of AI tools across workplaces and services.

In contrast, the United States ranked 24th globally, with 28.3 percent of its working-age population using AI. While the U.S. remains a global leader in AI research and home to many of the world’s largest technology firms, the report points to comparatively lower public trust in AI as a possible factor limiting wider adoption.

Pakistan’s adoption rate remains significantly lower than global leaders. According to figures cited from the Microsoft AI Diffusion Report 2025, less than 15 percent of Pakistan’s working-age population used AI tools during the same period. Analysts attribute the gap to challenges such as limited digital infrastructure, uneven internet access, lower levels of digital skills, and fewer locally relevant AI applications.

At the lower end of the global spectrum, countries such as Cambodia, where adoption stood at 5.1 percent, continue to face structural barriers including investment constraints and limited technological capacity.

Microsoft’s analysis covers 147 countries, measuring whether individuals used AI tools at least once during the second half of 2025 and tracking changes from the first half of the year. The data suggest that while AI adoption is expanding globally, progress remains highly uneven, shaped by differences in policy support, infrastructure, skills, and public trust.