Number of connected devices worldwide exceeds global population

There are 8.1 billion connected smartphones, tablets, personal computers, TVs, and other devices worldwide at the end of 2015, more than the global population of 7.4 billion, a new study by London-based IHS Inc.

According to the IHS Technology Connected Device Market Monitor study, 8.1 billion total equates to around four devices per household on average, across the globe. The IHS report examined the key trends and data for markets including global devices, over the top (OTT) and pay-TV multi-screen.

"The proliferation of media-enabled connected endpoints has implications for media consumption, media production, broadband infrastructure, and the business itself of network management and traffic discrimination,” said Merrick Kingston, who analyzes connected-home issues for IHS Technology, in a statement. "It drives media consumption, IP traffic and more."

The study also found that smartphones now outnumber tablets by a ratio of five to one. Smartphones contribute roughly half a billion new devices to the market every year. The markets for tablets and OTT set-tops are also growing rapidly, but not nearly at the pace of smartphones. By 2020, the gap between smartphones and tablets will get wider, according to the company.