Ani Petrosyan
Research expert for cybersecurity and cybercrime
Internet usage in the United Kingdom (UK) - statistics & Facts
The United Kingdom (UK) has one of the largest online populations worldwide and in Europe. With over 60 million internet users, the country is fourth in Europe, and 17th in the world. By 2028, the country is forecast to have around 63 million online users. Most of the UK’s population, about 98 percent, has access to the internet, ranking sixth worldwide by internet penetration rate. Furthermore, the share of households with internet access in the country was 95 percent.
A survey among internet users in the United Kingdom (UK) also found that the majority of them were full-time employees. Approximately 30 percent of those using online services and platforms had a bachelor’s degree.
The most popular app category in the UK as of 2024 was tool apps. Apps in this category were downloaded around 377 million times in the UK in 2024. Productivity apps ranked second, with about 313 million downloads, followed by entertainment apps, with over 252 million downloads.
The internet usage landscape in the UK is diverse. It aligns with the internet usage patterns of other English-speaking big online markets, such as the United States. The market is also moving towards a more digitally literate environment.
Who is using the internet the most in the UK?
The UK’s most active internet users were individuals between 30 and 39 years old. This age group made up almost 30 percent of all internet users in the country. Meanwhile, the share of men and women going online was almost the same, with only a two percent difference.A survey among internet users in the United Kingdom (UK) also found that the majority of them were full-time employees. Approximately 30 percent of those using online services and platforms had a bachelor’s degree.
What digital device is often used in the UK?
As of 2025, smartphones have a well-established dominance over other digital devices connecting to the internet. In the UK, roughly 77 percent of the time spent online was via a smartphone. On average, people in the United Kingdom spent three hours and 50 minutes online daily, including almost three hours via a smartphone. Young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 years were among the most active smartphone users.Mobile internet and app usage in the UK
As of 2025, around 58 million individuals in the United Kingdom (UK) were using mobile internet, which translates to around 84 percent of the country’s total population. On smartphones, people mainly use internet browsers, e-mail services, and social media apps.The most popular app category in the UK as of 2024 was tool apps. Apps in this category were downloaded around 377 million times in the UK in 2024. Productivity apps ranked second, with about 313 million downloads, followed by entertainment apps, with over 252 million downloads.
Social media usage in the UK
As of 2025, there were around 54 million social media users in the United Kingdom. Facebook had the highest market share in the country, over 60 percent, while Twitter ranked second, with about 14 percent. Used more often by older generations, Facebook had nearly 51 million users nationwide. The number of Instagram users amounted to over 34 million as of 2025.Online privacy and data protection
More than a third of internet users in the United Kingdom were concerned about how companies might use their online data. Meanwhile, over 70 percent were worried about what is real and what is fake on the internet. Furthermore, nearly half of UK internet users decline cookies on websites.The internet usage landscape in the UK is diverse. It aligns with the internet usage patterns of other English-speaking big online markets, such as the United States. The market is also moving towards a more digitally literate environment.
