Tor Browser Statistics

Tor Browser may not be the popular choice for most people in the market, but there is an ever-increasing user base for this privacy-centric web browser. You must also remember that censorship and restrictions are becoming so common across the world. It is thus no surprise that people want to use the Tor protocol—and the Tor browser. In this article, we have compiled some interesting facts and stats on Tor Browser.

Key Facts and General Statistics about Tor Browser

Here are a few interesting facts and statistics about Tor Browser.

• The initial release of the Tor Browser was in 2008. However, Tor, which stands for The Onion Router, has been an active project since the mid-1990s.
• The founders of Tor wanted to create an anonymized way to browse the internet, with the objective of bypassing surveillance and censorship.
• Tor Browser is a fully open-source web browser, meaning that its code is available free of cost. It also makes a huge step towards transparency since anyone can inspect what is going under the hood.
• It is estimated that as of 2024, 2 million users across the world actively use Tor Browser.

• Tor Browser runs on the funds it raises through donations and grants, and the browser is completely free for everyone to use. The web browser does not show ads, either.
• Tor Browser maintains official versions for Operating Systems like Windows, macOS, Android, and a number of Linux distros.
• Even though Tor Browser is unavailable for iOS, the Tor Project endorses another browser: Onion Browser.
• Tor Browser and the Tor protocol do not maintain any logs, meaning that users can browse whatever they want without being tracked.
• Although Tor Browser and Tor Project are a means against government surveillance, they continue to receive government funding, especially from companies like the US State Department and DARPA.
•  Despite offering slower speed than a non-Tor connection, the Tor network, on average, handles 100 gigabytes of traffic every second.

Tor Market Share and Statistics

• Like many other niche web browsers, Tor Browser does not have a distinctive presence in the global web browser market. Instead, this privacy-focused browser is included in the Others category.
• However, metrics from the Tor Project and third-party sources reveal that hundreds of thousands of new users download and install the Tor Browser every month, signifying its increasing popularity.
• Tor Browser remains a practical option for users across the world to access content that is blocked in their respective countries.
• Russia is home to the highest number of daily Tor users.
• Tor Browser allows users to access over 65,000 URLs that have a .onion ending. However, not all of these websites are illicit.
• Although the number of active Tor Browser users averages 2 million, some situations have recorded peak numbers, such as 9 million daily users.
• The highest number of direct Tor connections are from Germany, which contributes to 51.27% of all the connections the Tor Project sees. In second place stands the United States with 13.42%.

• Accurate information about the market share of the Tor Browser is unavailable since the browser or the protocol does not track user activities or background.
• Usage patterns of the Tor Browser also vary depending on the region and socio-political background.
• Many popular websites like Facebook have launched Tor versions. Users can access these websites using the Tor Browser even if the said website is banned/restricted in their respective locations.

Daily Tor Browser Users Statistics by Countries

Here are some statistics on people who use and power the Tor Browser and the Tor network.

• 19.04% of mean daily relay users for Tor are from the United States. In the second and third places, we can see Germany and India, with 12.54% and 4.01% respectively. These relay nodes play a crucial role in enabling anonymized traffic through the Tor network.

• When it comes to unlisted relays that allow Tor users to access the Tor network better, Russia, Iran, and the United States are in the top three positions. These bridge relays are necessary to offer better connectivity through Tor.
• Tor Browser is downloaded the most by Windows users, with the number close to 40,000 downloads in November 2024.
• Even though macOS and Linux users download Tor Browser, the numbers are lower, with an average of 10,000 in November 2024.
• The total relay bandwidth of the Tor network is upwards of 750 Gigabits per second as of November 2024.
• According to November 2024, the Tor Browser can use over 8,000 relays and 2,000 bridges. The total number of these bridges and relays varies based on location and demand.
• Between August 2024 and November 2024, the number of direct connections to Tor Browser fluctuated between 2 million and 4 million.
• The advertised bandwidth of the Tor network has had enormous growth since 2009, and the total capacity will reach the 1,000Gbit/s mark in 2025.
• Despite the changes in its advertised capacity, the Tor Browser continues to be a trusted option for many users across the globe. The consistency in the number of installs and update pings is a clear sign of this popularity.
• It must be noted that Germany has the highest number of direct Tor Browser users, thanks to the availability of the browser and the protocol in the country. However, in Russia, more users need to rely on Tor bridges.

Tor Usage Patterns Statistics

• Tor Browser is used the most by users in countries like Germany, the United States, Finland, Russia, and India.
• Russia, Iran, and the United States have the highest number of Tor Browser users who need to use a bridge.
• Even though many use the Tor Browser and the Dark Web interchangeably, this is not the case. In fact, only 3% of the total traffic Tor Browser receives is associated with the dark web.
• This means that more than 90% of Tor Browser users need the web browser to access legal content that is blocked in their respective regions.

• 6.7% of Tor Browser users are reported to use onion websites for illicit purposes. Others use the Tor browser for better anonymity and privacy.
• Even though it has a bad reputation, Tor is widely used by government agencies to enable secure and anonymous communication. It could be one of the reasons Tor receives funds and grants from many governmental agencies from across the world.
• Because Tor Browser is designed to use multiple relays before connecting to a website, it becomes difficult for the website to understand where the request is coming from.
• Tor Browser is not the only browser that you can use to access the Tor protocol. Popular browsers like Brave have also added Tor support to their latest versions.
• The Tor Project and Tor Browser are used the most to circumvent censorship, making it possible for everyone to access anything available on the internet.
• The Tor project is kept alive by over 7,000 relay volunteers and 2000 bridges.
• Tor Browser has become a go-to choice for digital activism because of the anonymity it offers. More importantly, whistleblowers and journalists use the Tor Browser and Tor Project to communicate without being watched by governments.
• Because the Tor Browser and the Tor Project are available free of cost, the number of Tor users has seen a stark increase in the last decade. These new users come from economically backward regions like Africa as well.
• The number of Tor Browser downloads and users has also increased since users became aware of digital surveillance and security issues. In addition, users are motivated to circumvent the numerous restrictions that curtail seamless internet access.
• It has been reported that corporate customers are also turning to Tor Browser. They use the browser the most for transactions involving sensitive information, such as intellectual property.
• The Tor Browser will notify you regarding a potential onion service when you visit a website with the Tor protocol enabled.

Demand Influencing Factors for Tor

Here are some factors that are increasing the demand for Tor Browser.

• The increasing instances of internet surveillance remain the most significant factor that is driving the demand for the Tor Browser and the Tor protocol. The dynamic usage patterns of the Tor protocol can reveal the connection between surveillance campaigns and user demand for Tor.
• For most users, the Tor Browser and the protocol offer a free-of-cost way to get rid of censorship in their countries. As a result, Tor Browser is in high demand in countries where the state has imposed restrictions on what users can access on the Internet.
• Since users have become more aware of data leaks and ongoing digital fingerprinting practices, they want to protect their anonymity and feel less watched by using the Tor Browser. Many users are often willing to trade speed for this sense of enhanced security.
• Tor Browser has become more accessible and easier to use over the past decade. This change has been pushing more users to try what the Tor protocol has to offer in terms of privacy and security.
• Multiple campaigns educate users about potential privacy threats and how to overcome them. These campaigns have also helped improve the demand for Tor, driving the number of downloads for the Tor Browser.

Conclusion

The increasing market demand for the Tor Browser and the Tor project conveys the worrying situation in terms of surveillance and censorship. However, it is a relief to know that browsers like Tor are becoming more straightforward to use and manage. Their efficiency helps users access the Internet the way it was imagined.