Internet use in the UK annual estimates by age, sex, disability, ethnic group, economic activity and geographical location, including confidence intervals.

The number of internet users in the United Kingdom as of 2025 was nearly ** million. It was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total *** million users (+**** percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the number of users is estimated to reach ***** million users and therefore a new peak in 2030. Notably, the number of internet users of was continuously increasing over the past years.Depicted is the estimated number of individuals in the country or region at hand, that use the internet. As the datasource clarifies, connection quality and usage frequency are distinct aspects, not taken into account here.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to *** countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

Graph and download economic data for Internet users for the United Kingdom (ITNETUSERP2GBR) from 1990 to 2023 about internet, United Kingdom, and persons.

As of January 2025, the United Kingdom had approximately **** million internet users in total. Meanwhile, there were **** million active social media users as of the reported period, which accounted for around ** percent of the total population.

Among internet users between 18 and 64 years old in the United Kingdom (UK), 21 percent were individuals between 30 and 39. Those between 50 and 59 years old made up another 21 percent of overall internet users in the market.

As of March 2025, 26 percent of internet users in the United Kingdom (UK) had a bachelor's or equivalent degree. Furthermore, 23 percent had secondary, and another 23 percent had further education. Approximately 14 percent of online users in the UK had a master's degree.

Forecast: Total Internet Users in the UK 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

The number of smartphone users in the United Kingdom was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total *** million users (+**** percent). After the ********** consecutive increasing year, the smartphone user base is estimated to reach ***** million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of smartphone users of was continuously increasing over the past years.Smartphone users here are limited to internet users of any age using a smartphone. The shown figures have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to *** countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

The share of women among internet users in the United Kingdom was higher by two percent than men's. As of March 2025, equal share of men and women used the internet.

Estimates of adult Internet users and non-users in the UK, by age, sex, disability, region, gross weekly pay, ethnicity and when adults last used the Internet.

Annual data on internet usage in Great Britain, including frequency of internet use, internet activities and internet purchasing.

Data tables for the Internet Users publication

As of January 2024, nearly 98 percent of the United Kingdom (UK) population used the internet. This figure has increased by around eight percent over the past five years. Overall, there were around 66 million internet users in the United Kingdom as of 2023.

Social media platforms are integral to people's lives, offering ways to communicate, create and view content and share information. According to Ofcom, approximately 89% of UK internet users in 2023 used social media apps or sites. Teenagers and young adults are the biggest users, although there is rapid uptake among older age groups. Advertising is the primary revenue source for social media platforms, although subscription-based services are gaining momentum as platforms seek to diversify their incomes. TikTok is the success story of the last few years, becoming the most downloaded app between 2020 and 2022, according to Apptopia. The short-form video platform reported that it averaged revenue growth of over 450% between 2019 and 2022. After Musk's takeover, X, formerly known as Twitter, adjusted its content moderation and allowed previously banned accounts to return. As a result, over 600 advertisers have pulled their ads from the site because of fears their brand may be associated with malcontent. In response to falling ad revenue, X has introduced a subscription-based service which enables users to verify themselves and boosts the number of people who view their tweets. Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram have responded by introducing a similar service. Revenue is expected to grow by 14.3% in 2024-25, constrained by a slowdown in user growth for most major social media platforms. Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 32.8% to reach £9.8 billion. Looking forward, regulations relating to how data is collected, stored, and shared will force advertisers and platforms to rethink how they can target their desired demographics. The rising prominence of AI will require the introduction of adequate regulations. The Online Safety Bill sets out new guidelines for social media platforms to abide by, with hefty fines in store for those who do not. Operating costs will swell as platforms look to meet consumers’ expectations, weighing on profit. Over the five years through 2029-30, social media platforms' revenue is projected to climb at an estimated 9.4% to reach £15.4 billion.

As of March 2021, the digital population of the United Kingdom was counting approximately 10.6 million unique users on smartphones who were aged 55 years or older. UK users aged between 18 and 24 years old accessing the internet via smartphones were 5.3 million, while the number grew to 8.5 million in the case of users aged between 25 and 24 years old. UK internet users aged 55 and above also made up the largest demographic group for internet access on tablet devices, counting 8.3 million users.

In May 2024, around 27 million internet users in the United Kingdom (UK) reported accessing the National Health Service (NHS) websites and apps, making it the most used medical service in the country. The publication and health information provider Healthline ranked second, with 6.8 million users based in the UK accessing the platform in the examined month. The website of the National Institutes of Health followed, with an audience reach of 4.7 million users.

As of March 2025, internet users in the United Kingdom (UK) spent around four hours and 47 minutes daily accessing the internet via any device. Furthermore, mobile devices engaged UK users way longer than tablets or laptops, with over three hours spent daily accessing the internet via smartphones.