Why average speeds matter in 2025?
In 2025, internet speed is no longer just a convenience — it’s a business enabler. Governments, startups, remote workers and streaming platforms all rely on robust fixed and mobile networks. Average national speeds (often reported as median or mean download speeds) are a useful snapshot of how well countries are keeping pace with gigabit-capable services, 5G rollout, and fibre investment. This article summarises the state of internet speeds across Europe in 2025 and gives a clear list of countries so you can compare performance and opportunity at a glance.
What “average internet speed” means (quick explainer)
When you read speed figures they usually come in two flavours:
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Fixed broadband — home and office connections (fibre, cable, DSL). Often reported as median fixed download speed.
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Mobile — cellular connections on phones and tablets (4G/5G). Usually reported as median mobile download speed.
Country, Average Fixed Download Speed (Mbps)
Iceland,197.7
Spain,192.1
France,190.6
Poland,168.8
Romania,123.4
Moldova,≈100
Slovenia,≈100
Lithuania,≈100
Bosnia and Herzegovina,28.0
Georgia,40.5
North Macedonia,45.3
Belarus,48.3
Median values are preferred for national comparisons because they reduce the skew caused by a small number of extremely fast connections. Different publishers (Ookla/Speedtest, national regulators, analytics sites) may publish slightly different values depending on sample size and methodology.
Europe’s overall picture in 2025
Across Europe in 2025, the continent shows strong leadership in fixed broadband thanks to fibre upgrades and aggressive public-private investment in last-mile infrastructure. Northern and Western European countries typically report the highest average fixed speeds, while mobile speeds are more variable depending on 5G coverage and spectrum policy. Several small countries with concentrated urban populations and early fibre builds — including Iceland and parts of Western Europe — rank top for fixed broadband.
Who leads Europe (top performers)
As of mid-2025 the countries most frequently reported at the top for fixed broadband include:
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Iceland — consistently reported among the fastest in Europe for fixed broadband (average/median fixed speeds ~ near 200 Mbps for many users).
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Spain, France, Switzerland, Denmark — these countries often appear just behind Iceland, with many urban areas enjoying very high fibre speeds.
For mobile, results vary by data provider, but European leaders typically include countries with dense 5G coverage and modern mobile infrastructure. Exact ranks shift month-to-month as operators expand networks.
Full list of European countries (alphabetical)
Below is a straightforward alphabetical list of countries generally considered part of Europe (useful for SEO, targeting, and benchmarking). For country-level speed figures, scroll to the section after the list.
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan (partly in Europe), Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey (partly in Europe), Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican City.
Representative speed snapshots (how to interpret data)
Because national averages can change rapidly, this article focuses on representative snapshots and trends rather than a single “absolute” value for every country. Trusted industry indices (like the Speedtest Global Index and national regulators) are good sources for month-by-month medians; they show:
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Northern & Western Europe generally lead in fixed broadband (many cities >100–200+ Mbps median).
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Eastern & some Southern European markets typically report lower medians but are improving fast with fibre and cable upgrades.
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Mobile performance depends strongly on how quickly operators deploy 5G and the amount of low-latency spectrum available in each market.
Why do numbers differ between reports
If you look up “internet speeds in France” on two different sites, you may find different values. Reasons include:
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Median vs mean: mean can be biased upward by a small number of ultra-fast connections.
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Sample selection: some indexes include city tests, others only consumer devices; sample size matters.
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Timing: indexes are updated monthly — a country rolling out fibre or 5G can jump ranks quickly.
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Measurement tool: different apps and measurement methodologies produce slightly different results.
Practical takeaways for businesses, creators and marketers
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Target cities, not just countries. National medians hide big urban/rural divides. For content, advertising or product launches, focus on urban areas where average connection speed is higher.
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Use adaptive delivery. Offer multiple quality streams and adaptive images because even in fast countries mobile users may still be on slower connections.
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Localise for slower markets. In countries with lower medians, prioritise lightweight pages, image compression and server proximity (CDNs).
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Monitor source data. Because rankings change fast, pick a reliable monthly index (e.g., Speedtest/Ookla or national regulator reports) and check updates when planning launches.
How speeds may move through 2025 and beyond
Several trends will continue to reshape European averages:
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Fibre expansion: municipal and private fibre rollouts in smaller markets will raise fixed medians.
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5G densification: as operators add mid- and high-band spectrum and more 5G sites, mobile medians will improve.
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Regulatory shifts: spectrum auctions, permitting speed for cell towers, and national broadband plans can accelerate or slow progress (and in some cases political decisions have caused services such as some global speed test tools to be blocked in a few countries).
Europe in 2025 remains a leader in global internet performance — especially in fixed broadband — but there is considerable variety between countries. Small, well-connected nations often top fixed-broadband lists, while mobile speeds are increasingly defined by how fast operators can scale 5G networks. Use median figures for fair comparisons, prioritise city-level data for targeting, and revisit authoritative monthly indexes to keep your content and campaigns aligned with the latest numbers.