Internet and smartphone access is increasing rapidly, but large gaps remain between developed and emerging economies,according torecent data from thePew Research Center.

The reportwas based on data from a survey of adults in 40 countries (a combination of developing and advanced economies); smartphone users were automatically included in the Internet user data set.

The median rate of Internet access around the world is 67%, the analysis found, with overall usage increases being driven by large emerging economies such as Malaysia, Brazil, and China.

However, a large gap remains between developing and advanced economies: A median of 54% of adults in emerging economies use the Internet compared with 87% in advanced economies.

As for smartphone ownership, the digital divide between less-advanced economies and developed economies was 31 points in 2015.

Smartphone ownership in developing nations is rising at an extraordinary rate, Pew found, climbing from a median of 21% in 2013 to 37% in 2015.

The countries with the highest rates of Internet access are South Korea (94%), Australia (93%), and Canada (90%); the countries with the lowest Internet access rates are Ethiopia (8%), Uganda (11%), Pakistan (15%), and Burkina Faso (18%).

The countries with the highest rates of smartphone ownership are South Korea (88%), Australia (77%), and Israel (74%); the countries with the lowest rates of smartphone ownership are Ethiopia (4%), Uganda (4%), Pakistan (11%), and Tanzania (11%).

About the research:The reportwas based on data from a survey of adults in 40 countries (a combination of developing and advanced economies); smartphone users were automatically included in the Internet user data set.