Internet Access In Australia: Who's Connected?

how many people have internet in australia

Australia has witnessed a steady increase in internet usage over the years, with the internet deeply integrated into Australians' daily lives. In 2023, approximately 86.5% of Australians were online, with an average daily usage exceeding 180 minutes. As of 2024, there were 25.31 million internet users in Australia, with internet penetration standing at 94.9%. The internet has become the primary source of news for Australians, surpassing television. With almost all online experiences starting with a search engine, businesses are increasingly focusing on SEO strategies to capture the growing online audience.

Characteristics Values
Number of internet users in Australia 25.31 million (2024)
Internet users as a percentage of the population 86.5% (2023)
Internet penetration 94.9% (2024)
Social media users 20.8 million (2024)
Percentage of population using social media 82.5% (2024)
Average time spent online per user per day 5 hours and 51 minutes (2024)
Average time spent on TikTok per user per month 42 hours and 13 minutes (2024)
Number of smart home devices 15.9 million (2023)
Number of internet subscribers 22 million (2022)
Number of mobile handset subscribers 27 million (2018)
Number of Netflix subscribers 11.9 million (2019)
Number of Facebook users 16.19 million (2023)
Number of Whatsapp users 11.36 million (2023)
Number of Instagram users 10.96 million (2023)
Number of Snapchat users 3.32 million (2023)

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In 2024, there were 25.31 million internet users in Australia

The internet is deeply integrated into Australians' daily lives. In 2024, the average active internet user in Australia spent 5 hours and 51 minutes per day online, whether via mobile phones, tablets, or computers. This amounts to nearly 40 hours per week, which is roughly the same amount of time many people spend at work. As of 2023, more than 86.5% of Australians were online, with an average daily usage of over 180 minutes (three hours) each day.

Facebook is the most popular social media platform in Australia, with more than 63% of Australians logging on at least once per month. As of 2023, Australia had 16.19 million active Facebook users, 11.36 million active WhatsApp users, 10.96 million active Instagram users, and 3.32 million active Snapchat users. In December 2019, over 14.5 million Australians had access to some form of Pay TV/Subscription TV, with 11.9 million having a Netflix subscription in their household, up 15% from 2018.

The number of internet users in Australia is expected to continue growing. Forecasts indicate that online Australian audiences will reach 21.6 million by 2025, with some estimates placing the number above 23.3 million.

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Australians spend nearly 40 hours online weekly

As of 2020, Australians were spending nearly 40 hours online weekly, with an average of 37 minutes more per day than in previous years. This amounts to 1,144 hours online over a year. In 2020, 1 in 3 minutes online was spent on social media, with TikTok making its debut in the top 16 most-visited social platforms. This is in addition to the average of 1 hour and 31 minutes spent on social media daily.

In 2024, the average active internet user in Australia spent 5 hours and 51 minutes online daily via mobile phones, tablets, and computers. This amounts to nearly 41 hours and 35 minutes per week.

Australians also spend a significant amount of time online consuming media and entertainment. In 2024, the average time spent on streaming platforms was 8 hours and 20 minutes per week, with an additional 3 hours and 40 minutes spent on free streaming platforms like YouTube. On average, Australians also spent 6 hours and 20 minutes on social media per week. In 2020, Gen Z Australians, those aged between 16 and 24, spent an average of 12 hours and 45 minutes on social media per week.

In 2023, 86.5% of Australians accessed the internet at least once a month, amounting to 21.93 million Australians. This figure is expected to increase, with internet usage in Australia on the rise.

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97% of Australians own a smartphone

Australia is a developed country that is at the forefront of adopting new technologies and innovations, including internet usage. In 2024, there were 25.31 million internet users in Australia, with a population of 26.6 million. This equates to an internet penetration rate of 94.9% in 2024.

Australians are increasingly using their smartphones for a wide range of purposes, including fitness and health tracking, digital payments, gaming, and social networking. The internet and mobile devices have been instrumental in helping businesses grow and scale online, especially in the eCommerce market. As a result, smartphones have become lighter and more portable, with better interconnection systems that allow users to access the internet through Wi-Fi and mobile broadband.

Datareportal's Global Digital Report 2024 revealed that approximately 97% of Australians own at least one smartphone, with 96.4% using it to access the internet. This high smartphone ownership rate has had a significant impact on the digital landscape in Australia. The latest Digital 2024: Australia report by Meltwater and We Are Social showed that only 3% of Australian internet users aged 16-64 don't have smartphones, which equates to just 756,300 people.

The increasing adoption of smartphones in Australia is also reflected in the growing number of children using mobile phones. Since 2015, there has been a 5% increase in children aged 6 to 13 using mobile phones, and the number of children engaging with smartphones continues to rise. Overall, the integration of smartphones into Australians' daily lives is evident, with many considering their devices a necessity and prioritising them over other items such as wallets and house keys.

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86.5% of Australians were online in 2023

Australia is a developed country that is at the forefront of the rapid adoption of new technologies and innovations, including internet usage. As of 2023, 86.5% of Australians were online, with an average daily usage exceeding 180 minutes (three hours) each day. This equates to approximately 21.93 million Australians using the internet each month, out of a total population of 25.36 million. The internet is deeply integrated into Australian daily life, with the most popular online activities including email, web browsing, banking, video streaming, and shopping.

The share of the Australian population who are active internet users has remained steady since 2015, with 91% of the population being active users in 2022. The number of internet subscribers has increased year on year over the last eight years, surpassing 22 million subscribers in 2022. This growth is driven by increased accessibility, with more than half of Australians accessing the internet mainly via a broadband connection. However, a growing number of people are using mobile connections via smartphones or tablets as their primary means of accessing the internet.

Social media usage is also prevalent in Australia, with approximately 82.5% of Australians being active users as of 2024. Facebook is the most popular platform, with more than 63% of Australians logging on at least once per month. Other popular platforms include Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, which has the highest average time spent per user at 42 hours and 13 minutes per month. Australia has a high smartphone ownership rate, with 97% of Australians owning at least one device, further facilitating internet access.

Looking forward, the number of internet users in Australia is expected to continue growing. Forecasts predict that online Australian audiences will reach 21.6 million by 2025, and internet penetration is expected to increase to 94.9%. This growth is driven by the increasing importance of the internet in daily life, with businesses leveraging online interactions and consumers valuing convenience in their daily tasks and entertainment options.

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91% of Australians were active internet users in 2022

Australia is at the forefront of the adoption of new technologies and innovations, including internet usage. In 2022, 91% of Australians were active internet users, with more than 22 million subscribers. This number is expected to increase, with forecasts estimating that Australia's online audience will reach 21.6 million by 2025 and exceed 23.3 million by the same year.

The internet is deeply integrated into Australians' daily lives, with the average user spending nearly 40 hours per week online. This high level of internet usage has reshaped the country's digital world, particularly in the areas of eCommerce and social media. Facebook, for instance, is the most popular social media platform in Australia, with more than 63% of Australians logging on at least once a month. As of 2023, Australia had 16.19 million active Facebook users, 11.36 million active WhatsApp users, 10.96 million active Instagram users, and 3.32 million active Snapchat users.

In addition to social media usage, Australians use the internet for a variety of functions, including online shopping, email, web browsing, banking, and video streaming. The country's internet infrastructure has developed rapidly over the past decade, with NBN Co. established in 2009 to build and operate the National Broadband Network (NBN). The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of reliable internet access, with a significant increase in the number of people working from home.

As of 2024, there were 25.31 million internet users in Australia, with a penetration rate of 94.9%. This growth in internet users is reflected in the increasing number of mobile handset subscribers, which stood at approximately 27 million in June 2018, showcasing Australians' growing reliance on internet connectivity.

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Frequently asked questions

As of 2025, there are approximately 25.21 million internet users in Australia. This number is expected to increase to 21.6 million by the end of the year.

As of 2025, around 88% of Australians use the internet. This is an increase from 2022, when 91% of Australians were active internet users.

As of 2024, there were over 20.8 million social media users in Australia. Facebook is the most popular social media platform, with more than 63% of Australians logging on at least once a month.

Telstra is the leading internet service provider in Australia, with over 6.35 million users.

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