Eurostat: 66% of EU Internet users will use online banking services in 2022

In 2022, 90% of the EU population reported that they had used the Internet in the last 3 months. A closer look at their online behavior shows that the Internet is mainly used to communicate with others, such as sending and receiving emails (86%) and instant messaging (80%).

The following online activities are also popular among EU netizens:

• 77% of people rely on the Internet to find information about goods and services;
• 73% use it to make phone or video calls;
• 72% watch TV or video streaming over the Internet;
• 71% read online news sites or newspapers;
• 66% use online banking;
• 65% of people visit social networks;
• 60% of people listen to music online;
• 58% of people search for health information online.

2/3 of Internet users conduct banking business online

Looking more closely at online banking, 66% of online users used online banking services in 2022, compared to 53% in 2012. Online banking is most popular among 25 to 64 year olds (70%), compared to 59% of 16 to 24 year olds and 54% of 65 to 74 year olds. Among EU countries, people in Finland (97%), Denmark and the Netherlands (both 96%) use online banking most frequently.

People also use the Internet to buy goods and services

In 2022, 75% of the EU population had purchased or ordered goods or services online, up from 55% in 2012.

In 2022, the proportion of Internet users who purchased goods or services via the Internet ranged from 49% in Bulgaria to 90% in Denmark and 92% in the Netherlands.

E-commerce penetration has reached 81% among 16 to 24-year-olds and 77% among 25 to 64-year-olds. Meanwhile, more than half (51%) of 65 to 74-year-olds will shop online in 2022.

Clothing is the most popular

In 2022, 68% of people who shopped online purchased clothes, shoes or accessories.

Online shoppers also purchased the following goods and services:

• 31% watch or download movies and TV series;
• 30% of people order takeout online;
• 30% rent a room, apartment or house through a website or app;
• 29% bought tickets to cultural or other events;
• 28% purchased transportation services;
• 27% of people buy cosmetics.

1/3 of online shoppers have experienced problems when shopping online

In 2022, 33% of people who had shopped online in the past three months experienced problems when purchasing online through a website or app.

In the EU, the most common problem encountered by online shoppers was slower-than-expected delivery, reported by 21% of buyers. 9% of online shoppers said the website was too difficult to use, and 8% said the main problem they encountered was wrong or damaged goods or services.