Internet access and use is widespread amongst the EU population. 79% of the households had access to the internet in 2013 and 76% had a broadband internet connection, compared with 55% and 42% respectively in 2007. For most individuals in the EU28, using the internet has become a regular activity, with 62% of individuals using it every day or almost every day and a further 10% at least once a week. On the other hand, 21% of individuals reported in 2013 that they have never used the internet, compared with 37% in 2007.
These data published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, represent only a small part of the results of a survey on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) usage in households and by individuals in the EU28 Member States, Iceland, Norway and Turkey. In addition to internet access and use and e-government, the survey covers a variety of indicators such as mobile use of the internet, e-commerce and other
activities carried out by individuals. The findings are used for monitoring several EU policies, in particular the Digital Agenda for Europe
.
Level of internet access ranges from 54% of households in Bulgaria to 95% in the Netherlands In most Member States, the level of internet access was high in 2013, with shares of more than 90% in the Netherlands (95% of households), Luxembourg (94%), Denmark and Sweden (both 93%). The lowest shares were registered in Bulgaria (54%), Greece (56%) and Romania (58%).
Broadband internet access enables higher speed when browsing and performing activities over the internet. In 2013, in every Member State at least half of households had a broadband connection. Finland (88%) registered the highest share of broadband connections, followed by Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden (in 2012) and the
United Kingdom (all 87%) and Germany (85%).
More details in the Eurostat press-release
