VPN usage spikes in 62 countries, with peaks up to 35,000%

VPN usage jumped sharply around the world in 2025, according to Proton VPN’s 2025 year-end report. The report says 62 countries recorded noticeable spikes in usage tied to ProtonVPN, with increases reaching as high as 35,000% above the previous benchmark.

What stands out is that the biggest spikes weren’t limited to countries typically associated with heavy restrictions. While repressive environments did show clear patterns of fast adaptation to censorship, other regions—including democratic countries—also saw sharp increases, driven by a different mix of pressure points.

Why the biggest ProtonVPN surges weren’t only in repressive countries

Rapid adaptation to censorship and access blocks

A major theme in the report is how quickly people move when access gets disrupted.

David Peterson, General Manager of ProtonVPN, describes it plainly: “Populations under repression are becoming faster and more adept at circumventing restrictive measures.”

In many places, sudden changes in VPN activity were linked to attempts to get around new blocks meant to control access to information. The spikes weren’t gradual. They were abrupt—happening in response to specific events that changed what people could access online.

Internet shutdowns and blackouts triggering immediate sign-up surges

The report highlights multiple cases where internet access was restricted and ProtonVPN usage surged immediately afterward:

  • Tanzania: After the general election in October led to a suspension of internet access, ProtonVPN sign-ups rose by 2,000%.
  • Papua New Guinea: In March, an internet blackout described as a “trial” to combat disinformation was followed by a surge of over 14,000% in VPN usage.
  • Afghanistan: A 24-hour internet blackout coincided with a 35,000% surge in sign-ups, described as one of the largest seen by Proton VPN in recent times.

Taken together, these examples reinforce a consistent pattern: when access is suddenly limited, large groups of people respond quickly by turning to VPNs as a workaround.

Democratic countries also saw spikes tied to regulation and privacy fears

Surveillance concerns and political positioning driving usage elsewhere

Outside of direct shutdowns, the report points to another set of drivers—concerns about surveillance, legislative changes, and broader anxiety around data protection.

The threat to digital privacy expanded beyond the places where VPN usage is often assumed to surge. Democratic countries saw multiple spikes linked to new rules and heightened concern about what’s being collected, stored, and potentially exposed.

UK age verification and sensitive data requirements

In July, the UK’s Online Safety Act introduced age verification, requiring internet users to provide sensitive data to access certain websites. While some people could have accepted the process as-is, the report notes that many chose a different path and turned to VPNs.

ProtonVPN sign-ups in the UK rose by over 1,200%. The surge is described as being fueled by fears shaped by previous data breaches involving sensitive information, including:

  • government-issued identity documents
  • biometric data

In this framing, the spike wasn’t about access being blocked outright—it was about hesitation to hand over personal data and the risk people associate with that kind of collection.

TikTok disruption during the US–China dispute

The report also points to the US–China dispute over TikTok. When the platform temporarily ceased US operations in January, ProtonVPN usage increased by 520%.

This is another example where the surge is tied less to broad censorship, and more to a specific disruption that pushed users to look for alternatives when something they relied on suddenly changed.

Why ProtonVPN gained users as censorship and surveillance concerns intensified

Privacy and encryption framed as basic needs, not extras

The report suggests ProtonVPN attracted users at moments when concerns around censorship and surveillance were rising—and as digital awareness continued to grow.

Peterson’s explanation frames the shift as cultural, not just situational: “People increasingly see encryption and privacy as basic needs rather than luxuries.”

And there’s a tactical element to it, too. He notes that people are taking proactive steps, including installing multiple VPNs in advance, anticipating:

  • blocks
  • bans
  • political interference

That detail matters because it implies behavior that’s not purely reactive. It’s preparatory—people acting before restrictions hit.

What ProtonVPN expects next: more surveillance mandates and more shutdowns

“Security” framing and surveillance mandates

Looking ahead, Peterson expects more surveillance mandates that are presented as security measures. The report positions this as part of what may continue pushing people toward privacy tools.

More internet shutdowns in autocratic regimes

He also expects more internet shutdowns in autocratic regimes, describing some countries as already taking extreme steps, with Iran mentioned as a notable example.

A fragmented internet is no longer theoretical

Peterson warns that a fragmented internet isn’t just a concept anymore. He describes a world where a “splinternet exists,” with:

  • different rules depending on location
  • different levels of access
  • different experiences depending on where you are
  • widening gaps in innovation, human rights, freedom of expression, and access to information

Within that picture, the report frames VPNs as increasingly important. As Peterson puts it: “This makes tools like VPNs more critical than ever.”