The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) household survey covers a range of topics related to internet penetration and the use of ICT by households and individuals. The survey is conducted annually in the first quarter of the year and asks respondents about their ICT activities over the previous 12 months. It provides estimates on a range of activities such as personal internet use, online purchasing and household internet access.
Interactive table: StatBank link
In the first quarter of 2017, 89% of all households had access to the internet at home, compared with 67% in the first quarter of 2009. (See StatBank link)
It is estimated that 94% of households in the Dublin region had internet access in the first quarter of 2017. In contrast 83% of households in the Border region indicated they had internet access in the same time period.
6.2 Individuals' use of the internet classified by frequency of use, sex and age group, 2012 to 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
% of individuals | |||||||||||||||||||||
Used within last 3 months | Used but not in the last 3 months | Never used the internet | |||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | ||||
State | 77 | 78 | 80 | 80 | 82 | 81 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | |||
Sex | |||||||||||||||||||||
Male | 77 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 81 | 79 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | |||
Female | 77 | 79 | 81 | 81 | 83 | 83 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | |||
Age Group | |||||||||||||||||||||
16-29 | 92 | 93 | 96 | 95 | 96 | 95 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |||
30-44 | 89 | 90 | 92 | 92 | 94 | 93 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | |||
45-59 | 70 | 76 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 79 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 17 | |||
60-74 | 40 | 46 | 43 | 45 | 52 | 48 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 53 | 49 | 51 | 49 | 41 | 46 | |||
Data are subject to sampling and other survey errors, which are relatively greater in respect of smaller values. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Individuals represent all individuals aged 16-74. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Source: CSO |
Interactive table: StatBank link
In 2017, an estimated 81% of individuals used the internet in the three months prior to the interview, compared with 77% five years previous in 2012.
In the first quarter of 2017, 95% of individuals aged 16 to 29 years used the internet "in the last three months". In contrast, just 48% of individuals aged 60 to 74 years used the internet during the same time period.
Type of online purchase | Type of online purchase |
---|---|
Clothes,sports goods | 43.5 |
Holiday accommodation | 36.6 |
Other travel arrangements | 36.4 |
Tickets for events | 37.1 |
Household goods | 21.4 |
Telecommunication services | 18.7 |
Electronic equipment | 17.3 |
Books,magazines,newspapers | 17.4 |
Films,music | 15.3 |
Video games,software,software upgrades | 9.5 |
Food, Groceries | 7.7 |
Computer hardware | 3.5 |
E-learning material | 3.2 |
Medicine | 1.3 |
Other | 8 |
Interactive table: StatBank link
Clothes or sports goods (44%), Tickets for events (37%), Holiday accommodation (37%) and Other travel arrangements (36%) were the most popular types of internet purchases made by individuals in the twelve months prior to interview during the first quarter of 2017.
6.4 Activities on the internet in the last 3 months, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
% of individuals | ||||||||||||||
Finding information on goods and services | Social networking | Internet telephoning/ video calls | Internet banking | Reading or downloading online news | Services related to travel | Uploading self created content3 | Seeking health related information | Selling of goods or services | Buying or renewing existing insurance policies | Participating in professional networks4 | Looking for a job or sending a job application | |||
State | 86 | 85 | 72 | 48 | 71 | 65 | 52 | 49 | 46 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 14 | |
Sex | ||||||||||||||
Male | 86 | 84 | 69 | 49 | 71 | 68 | 52 | 47 | 39 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 16 | |
Female | 85 | 85 | 76 | 48 | 71 | 62 | 52 | 50 | 53 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 13 | |
Age group | ||||||||||||||
16-29 | 86 | 86 | 93 | 60 | 67 | 66 | 49 | 70 | 45 | 26 | 13 | 19 | 26 | |
30-44 | 88 | 89 | 79 | 54 | 80 | 69 | 59 | 52 | 50 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 14 | |
45-59 | 85 | 81 | 58 | 35 | 69 | 62 | 50 | 34 | 44 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 8 | |
60-74 | 79 | 75 | 36 | 33 | 55 | 57 | 42 | 21 | 40 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 3 | |
Principal economic status | ||||||||||||||
At work | 88 | 88 | 73 | 51 | 81 | 69 | 61 | 49 | 48 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 12 | |
Unemployed | 80 | 77 | 72 | 38 | 47 | 55 | 26 | 43 | 37 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 47 | |
Student | 87 | 88 | 93 | 61 | 58 | 67 | 43 | 71 | 43 | 24 | 8 | 15 | 22 | |
Home duties | 82 | 74 | 71 | 41 | 56 | 55 | 42 | 44 | 49 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 9 | |
Retired | 80 | 79 | 33 | 34 | 57 | 62 | 46 | 20 | 42 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 2 | |
Other | 74 | 64 | 73 | 31 | 47 | 50 | 29 | 35 | 48 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 4 | |
Region | ||||||||||||||
Border | 84 | 76 | 68 | 38 | 68 | 45 | 37 | 34 | 32 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 9 | |
Midland | 83 | 74 | 77 | 38 | 58 | 66 | 34 | 51 | 40 | 17 | 21 | 7 | 13 | |
West | 87 | 90 | 71 | 50 | 71 | 74 | 59 | 45 | 49 | 34 | 15 | 11 | 17 | |
Dublin | 88 | 89 | 77 | 60 | 78 | 75 | 60 | 51 | 49 | 23 | 23 | 29 | 17 | |
Mid-East | 82 | 82 | 69 | 51 | 67 | 63 | 48 | 51 | 48 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 12 | |
Mid-West | 91 | 85 | 69 | 45 | 70 | 64 | 51 | 58 | 54 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12 | |
South-East | 83 | 80 | 74 | 41 | 68 | 54 | 52 | 52 | 42 | 29 | 22 | 11 | 14 | |
South-West | 86 | 88 | 69 | 39 | 70 | 62 | 54 | 45 | 47 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 15 | |
Source: CSO |
Interactive tables: StatBank link
The most popular activities of individuals who accessed the internet (in the three months prior to interview) were Finding information on goods and services (86%), Email (85%), Social networking (72%) and Internet banking (71%).
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