A survey on information and communication technology usage, partly financed by the European Commission, revealed that nearly all individuals aged 16 to 44 used the internet in 2024, the NSO said.

"In contrast, individuals aged 65 to 74 recorded the lowest internet usage levels, with only 70.2%. Notwithstanding this, internet usage in Malta exceeded the EU-27 average by 0.5 percentage points."

Results indicate that internet usage was primarily for communication purposes, with 98.1% of individuals using it for this reason. Additionally, 94.6% of individuals reported using the internet for entertainment purposes.

Between 2023 and 2024 the number of e-Government users increased by 6.9% the NSO said. "In absolute terms, the population accessing e-Government services stood at 331,804, which is equivalent to 81.1% of internet users. The uptake of this service was more common among individuals aged between 16 and 54 years."

E-commerce

Internet users who engaged in e-commerce activities during the reference period amounted to 270,318 (66.1%). In absolute terms, the majority of e-commerce users (57.6%) were within the 25 and 44 age bracket. The most common goods or services acquired online were deliveries from restaurants, fast-food chains or catering services, followed by the purchase of clothes. Differences in e-commerce activities can be noticed by sex, and in this regard males were more likely to opt for deliveries from restaurants, fast-food chains or catering services, whereas females were more likely to purchase clothes online."

In terms of services acquired over the internet, one notes that the most common purchase is transport from enterprises followed by accommodation from businesses, the NSO said.

Internet of things and Green ICT

The use of internet connected devices seems to be more popular among males, the NSO added. During 2024, 84.5% of all internet users used an internet-connected television in their home whereas 32.8% used a smart watch or a fitness band.

A table illustrated the most common characteristics considered by persons when purchasing a device. "Differences can be observed between males and females and in different age groups. Females tend to be more price conscious, whereas males give more importance to hardware characteristics, brand, and design. Almost four in every ten persons consider energy efficiency when purchasing a device, whereas about one third pay attention to the ecodesign of the device."