Internet has become increasingly important in recent years and particularly so in 2020, following the Covid-19 outbreak and the related confinement and social distancing measures imposed across the European Union (EU).
According to Eurostat, in 2020, 88% of people aged 16-74 in the European Union (EU) reported they had used the internet in the last 3 months; ranging from 70% in Bulgaria to 99% in Denmark. But while internet use remains high among the young across the 27 member states, it varies greatly among the older age groups.
Internet use is not as habitual among the older generation: 98% of those aged 16-24 used the internet in the last 3 months, while the average percentage falls to 61% among those aged 65-74.
Last year, Finland ranked fifth among the countries where the use of internet is most common among the older generation.
Denmark leads the ranking
Denmark recorded the highest share (94%) of people aged 65-74 who used the internet in the last 3 months, followed by Luxembourg and Sweden (both 91%), the Netherlands (90%) as well as Finland (88%).
In contrast, only 25% of people aged 65-74 in Bulgaria used the internet in the last 3 months, followed by those in Croatia (28%) and Greece (33%).
The data included in this article are based on Eurostat's annual survey on use of ICT in households and by individuals.
