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Published: 25 August 2008

Number of Internet users up from the year before

This publication has been corrected on 25 August 2008 at 16:45. The figure on the use of browser-based news services has changed.

According to interviews carried out in spring 2008, more than 3.2 million Finns, or some 83 per cent of the 16 to 74-year-olds, had used the Internet during the three months preceding the interview. In 2004 the corresponding percentage was 70. Internet use is now regular, 78 per cent of the population get online weekly. These data derive from Statistics Finland annual information and communication technology (ICT) usage survey, in which some 3,000 persons are interviewed.

Of the under 40-year-olds the Internet is used by nearly everyone, but the proportion of users starts to fall at age 40 and more clearly after reaching the age of 50. A good four in ten of the 60 to 74-year-olds use the Internet. However, in recent years Internet use has increased relatively the most among the over 60-year-olds.

Proportion of Internet users and purposes of use in the three preceding months in 2004-2008, percentage of 16 to 74-year-olds

					2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Proportion of Internet users					70	73	77	79	83
Ordering or purchasing online					20	25	29	32	33
Sale of second-hand goods, products and services at online flea markets, online market places and auction sites					8	9	12	13	15
Online banking					50	56	63	66	72
Searching information on education and training courses					20	21	23	35	36
Use of browser-based news services					*	*	*	*	191)
Reading blogs					*	*	15	26	31
Browsing travel and accommodation websites					42	48	53	57	58
*data not asked

Of the purposes of use presented in the table, online banking and browsing travel and accommodation websites were the most popular. Every third user had made online purchases. More and more secondhand goods are being sold on Internet flea markets. Almost one-fifth²⁾ of the users had subscribed to browser-based news services. The number of blog readers had doubled from 2006, and every third Internet user reported reading blogs.

¹⁾ Corrected, was previously 23.
²⁾ Corrected, was previously one-fourth.

Source: Survey on ICT usage in households and by individuals 2008. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mr Timo Sirkiä +358 9 1734 2622, tietoyhteiskunta.info@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ms Riitta Harala

Tables

Appendix tables

• Purposes of the use of the Internet in spring 2008, per cent of Internet users by age group (25.8.2008)

Figures

• Online shoppers during the past three months in 2001 - 2008, per cent of population aged 16-74 years (25.8.2008)
• Online shopping by product category in spring 2008, per cent of all buyers (25.8.2008)
• Percent of respondents who have used the Internet during the past three months by gender and age group in spring 2008 (25.8.2008)
• Places of Internet use in spring 2008, per cent of 16-74 years old population (25.8.2008)

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Last updated 25.8.2008