More than 60% of individuals in the EU28 use the internet daily

The Maltese are amongst the most avid users of internet on a daily basis, with one of the highest rates of broadband access, new data from Eurostat shows.

Internet access and use is widespread amongst the EU population, with 79% of households throughout the EU's 28 member states having access to the internet in 2013 and 76% having 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.

With regard to the use of e-government, 41% of individuals in the EU28 used the internet to interact with public authorities or services2 in 2013. Reasons for this interaction reported by EU28 e-government users were income tax declarations (44% of internet users who interacted with public authorities), requests for personal documents (20%), claiming social security benefits (16%) and enrolment in higher education or university (9%).

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%).

In most member states, the majority of individuals used the internet every day or almost every day, with the highest proportions registered in 2013 in Denmark (84% of individuals), the Netherlands (83%), Luxembourg (82%), Sweden (81%), Finland (80%) and the United Kingdom (78%). The highest shares of individuals who reported that they used the internet at least once a week, but not every day, were recorded in the Czech Republic (16%), Estonia, Ireland and Austria (all 14%). Around one third or more of individuals in Romania (42%), Bulgaria (41%), Greece (36%), Italy (34%), Portugal (33%), Cyprus and Poland (both 32%) have never used the internet, while in six Member States this proportion was below 10%.