Tiago Bianchi
Research expert covering internet & gaming in Latin America and Spain
Internet usage in Mexico - statistics & facts
Despite the caliber of its online market, Mexico experiences contradictions rather common to the rest of Latin America & the Caribbean. Ranking only behind Brazil, the country is the region’s second-largest internet market and the world’s eighth largest online audience. But even with the growth of the Mexican telecommunications industry and the increase in mobile connectivity across the continent, internet penetration and connectivity in Mexico still run behind those of a dozen other Latin American nations due to uneven access distribution and social problems. Nevertheless, Mexicans display incredible levels of engagement, overcoming online obstacles and contributing to the prosperity of sectors like social media and e-commerce, making the country one of the world’s most appealing and affluent markets.
Mexico's success in e-commerce demonstrates the significant potential and abilities of its citizens to engage and profit when they have the right conditions. Similarly, as in other Latin American markets such as Colombia and Peru, social issues continue to hinder its digital landscape and affect other industries, despite Mexico’s prominent 5G coverage. Therefore, efforts to improve connectivity must be coupled with addressing social problems, allowing Mexico's digital landscape to fulfill its potential across online and offline sectors.
Mexico’s matters of access
In 2024, over 88 percent of internet users in Mexico accessed the internet via their mobile phones. Still, most of the country’s internet traffic has originated from desktop devices, a trend amplified by the country’s 5G expansion and the coronavirus pandemic. But connectivity remains an issue stopping internet users accessing the web, due to issues with internet providers, slow connection and limited offers being among the biggest barriers of internet usage in the country. In addition to its detrimental social inequality, these gaps in the internet see Mexico not only segregate its online inclusivity by economic levels but also put rural Mexican communities behind by almost 20 percentage points when compared to its urban population.How do Mexicans use the internet?
When able to overcome connectivity hurdles, Mexicans display astounding levels of online activity, with over seven hours of daily usage across all devices. Exemplifying their defiance to these problems, finding information, and looking for solutions to the most varied issues are among the most popular reasons to use the service in the country. Meanwhile, over 63 percent of the country’s gamers use their mobile phones for playing games, while music and video consumption via streaming services rank as one of the most popular online habits. However, instant messaging, work-related activities, and social media usage take the crown as Mexican’s favorite online activities. With almost 100 million social media users, Mexico hosts the region’s second-largest audience for such platforms, constituting one of the world’s most broad and important markets for the segment.Surging e-commerce and Mexico’s online potential
Proportional to the size of its online population, Mexico is the fifth fastest-growing e-commerce market worldwide, growing at a rate of 15.7 percent in 2024. The country is the second-largest e-commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean, with over 70 percent of its population being online shoppers. Although revenues registered a strong decrease in 2022, the sector has slightly recovered, the sector still managed to generate around 38.1 million U.S. dollars in 2024. Considering Mexico’s connectivity barriers, mobile devices have become the preferred method for online purchases, showing how investments in mobile connectivity benefit other digital sectors.Mexico's success in e-commerce demonstrates the significant potential and abilities of its citizens to engage and profit when they have the right conditions. Similarly, as in other Latin American markets such as Colombia and Peru, social issues continue to hinder its digital landscape and affect other industries, despite Mexico’s prominent 5G coverage. Therefore, efforts to improve connectivity must be coupled with addressing social problems, allowing Mexico's digital landscape to fulfill its potential across online and offline sectors.
