Leslie Massey
Australia has seen a rapid increase in internet usage, with 86.5% of its 25.36 million population using the internet each month. This equates to roughly 21.93 million Australians online, with an average daily usage exceeding 180 minutes. Australia's internet penetration rate is expected to exceed 90% by 2025, with almost 23.3 million users forecasted. Australia's public WiFi landscape is extensive, with 17,328 WiFi hotspots recorded, and businesses are increasingly leveraging WiFi for cloud storage, collaboration, and cloud computing. Telstra, Australia's largest telecommunications provider, leads the market with 6.35 million users, followed by TPG and Optus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Australians with internet access | 86.5% (2023) |
| Number of Australians with internet access | 21.93 million (2023) |
| Number of internet users in Australia (forecast by 2025) | 23.3 million |
| Number of Australians using social media | 20.8 million (2024) |
| Number of Facebook users in Australia | 16.19 million |
| Number of WhatsApp users in Australia | 11.36 million |
| Number of Instagram users in Australia | 10.96 million |
| Number of Snapchat users in Australia | 3.32 million |
| Average time spent on TikTok per user in Australia | 42 hours and 13 minutes per month |
| Number of smart home devices in Australia | 15.9 million |
| Number of WiFi hotspots in Australia | 17,328 |
| Number of WiFi hotspots in Sydney | 3,173 |
| Number of Telstra users in Australia | 6.35 million |
| Number of TPG users in Australia | 1.92 million |
| Number of Optus users in Australia | 1.14 million |
| Number of Vocus Communications users in Australia | 502,000 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Internet usage statistics
Australia has seen a steady rise in internet usage over the years, with internet penetration reaching 91% in 2022. As of 2023, 86.5% of Australians access the internet at least once a month, translating to over 21.93 million people. This number is expected to increase, with forecasts indicating that Australia's online audience will surpass 23.3 million by 2025.
The country's internet infrastructure has developed rapidly, with the establishment of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in 2009, aiming to provide all Australians with affordable and fast broadband access. Telstra, Optus, and TPG Telecom dominate the market, offering various connection types, including 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies.
Australians spend a significant amount of time online, with an average daily usage of more than 180 minutes (three hours) each day. The average active internet user in 2024 is expected to spend 5 hours and 51 minutes per day online across various devices. Younger age groups tend to spend more time online, with 16 to 24-year-olds spending an average of 7 hours and 11 minutes online daily.
Social media usage is prevalent in Australia, with almost 80% of the population actively using social media platforms. Facebook is the most popular platform, with 16.26 million monthly active Australian visitors, followed by Facebook Messenger and Instagram. Social media has surpassed television as the primary news source for Australians, and platforms like TikTok have seen remarkable engagement, with users spending over 42 hours on the platform per month.
In addition to social media, Australians use the internet for various purposes, including email, web browsing, banking, video streaming, and online shopping. The integration of the internet into daily life is evident, and the country is committed to improving internet accessibility and speed, investing in 5G connectivity, and addressing underdeveloped infrastructure in regional areas.
Australia's public WiFi landscape is extensive, with 17,328 WiFi hotspots recorded across the country. Sydney leads with 3,173 WiFi networks, while Perth offers the best accessibility with only 175 people connected per hotspot. WiFi usage in businesses is prominent, facilitating collaboration, cloud storage, and cloud computing.
Australia's CCS Stance: A Climate Change Mitigation Ally?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Social media usage
Australia has near-universal connectivity, with 97.1% of its population (26.1 million people) online as of February 2025. This represents a 1% increase from the previous year. The country's internet market has largely matured, with a median age of 38.3, which is older than markets like India (30.4) and the Philippines (26.1). Australia's population is evenly split between the genders, with a high literacy rate of 99%.
As of January 2024, Australia had approximately 20.8 million social media users, representing about 76% to 78.3% of its total population. This figure is expected to grow, with a projected 27.7 million active internet users by 2029. Australians spend a significant amount of time online, with an average of six hours and twenty minutes per week on social media alone. This high internet usage is driven by a preference for mobile usage, with 97.4% to 97.6% of internet users aged 16 and above using mobile phones to access the internet. Additionally, 97.5% own smartphones, and 71.4% own laptops or desktop computers. This makes Australia one of the most cross-platform-savvy markets in the region.
The main reason Australians use the internet is to stay connected, with 58.2% using it to keep in touch with friends and family. Other motivations include filling spare time (44.1%), finding content (28.7%), reading news stories (27.4%), and finding inspiration for things to do and buy (26.2%). Social media usage varies across different platforms and generations. As of 2024, Facebook is the most popular platform, with over 16.26 million monthly active Australian visitors. However, TikTok has the highest average time per user, with 42 hours and 13 minutes per user every month. Instagram is also popular, with 13.95 million users in early 2024, and 52.5% ad reach in the total population.
In terms of gender distribution, 54.2% of Australian social media users are women, while 45.8% are men. This varies across platforms, with Instagram's ad audience in early 2024 comprising 55.7% females and 44.3% males. LinkedIn's ad audience, on the other hand, was 46.7% female and 53.3% male. While social media usage is prevalent across all age groups, there is a notable drop-off in usage among those aged 65 and above. As of 2024, the average daily time spent on social media by different generations was as follows: Gen Z (10 hours and five minutes), Millennials (seven hours and 45 minutes), Gen X (six hours and five minutes), Boomers (four hours and 30 minutes), and Matures (two hours and 40 minutes).
In November 2024, Australia announced a ban on social media for children under 16, covering platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X, with YouTube being exempt. This shift in social media usage by age will likely impact brand strategies, requiring them to develop network-specific tactics to effectively reach different age groups.
Australia's Population: Is It Growing or Shrinking?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Public WiFi
Australia has a vast network of digital connectivity committed to connecting terrains and areas to high-speed internet. As of 2023, more than 86.5% of Australians are online, with an average daily usage of more than 180 minutes (three hours) each day. By 2024, this figure is expected to increase to 94.9% of the population, or 25.31 million people.
In addition to free and open WiFi connections, there are other types of public WiFi connections in Australia. Some connections are free with conditions, typically found in airports, libraries, and on public transport, where you must agree to terms and conditions. Others are free for customers, where you receive the WiFi password after purchasing goods or services, commonly found in cafes and restaurants. Lastly, there are fee-for-service connections where users pay to access WiFi, often found in hotels and other places of business.
Copper Deposits in Australia: A Geographic Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Internet service providers
Australia has seen a steady rise in internet usage, with 86.5% of Australians accessing the internet at least once per month in 2023. This equates to approximately 21.93 million Australians out of a population of 25.36 million. As of 2024, there were 25.31 million internet users in Australia, indicating a +1.0% year-on-year growth.
Telstra
Telstra is the leading ISP in Australia, serving over 6.35 million customers across the country. It is also one of the few providers still offering ADSL connections, which utilize copper cabling. Telstra's ADSL plans start at AU$59 per month, but the company is gradually transitioning to faster fibre optic connections, such as the National Broadband Network (NBN).
TPG
TPG is the second-largest ISP in Australia, with 1.92 million users. They offer a range of internet plans, including NBN, 5G broadband, and home wireless options.
Optus
Optus is another major player in the Australian market, with 1.14 million users. They provide various internet services, including NBN, 5G broadband, and private fibre networks.
Vocus Communications
Vocus Communications serves around 502,000 customers in Australia. They offer a variety of internet plans, including NBN, 5G broadband, and private fibre connections.
National Broadband Network (NBN)
NBN is the primary method Australians use to connect to the internet, offering both wired and wireless connection options. NBN subscribers can access 4G/5G networks directly through their home wired and WiFi networks, providing faster speeds and flexibility. NBN plans are popular among households that require a stable connection for activities like online gaming or streaming.
Starlink
Starlink is a global satellite internet provider now available nationwide in Australia. It utilizes satellites in closer proximity to the Earth, resulting in quicker and more consistent speeds compared to other satellite services.
The availability and quality of internet services in Australia are expected to continue improving, with investments in faster speeds, better accessibility, security, and reliability.
Car Costs: Australia vs New Zealand
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Internet usage by age
As of 2024, Australia has 25.31 million internet users, with an internet penetration rate of 94.9%. This number is expected to exceed 23.3 million by 2025.
According to a Statista report from the same year, the average daily internet usage time varies by age group. Individuals aged 16 to 24 spend the most time online, with an average of 7 hours and 11 minutes per day. This is closely followed by those aged 25 to 34, who spend an average of 7 hours and 4 minutes online daily. The average time spent online decreases with age, with individuals aged 35 to 44 spending 6 hours and 19 minutes, those aged 45 to 54 spending 6 hours and 4 minutes, and the 55 to 64 age group spending 5 hours and 9 minutes online each day.
In terms of social media usage, Australia has a high penetration rate, with 20.8 million social media users recorded in 2024. This number represents 94.5% of internet users aged 16 and above. Facebook is the most popular platform, with 16.26 million monthly active Australian visitors as of January 2024. Facebook Messenger and Instagram are also widely used, with 14.53 million and 12.97 million unique monthly Australian visitors, respectively.
Australia's public WiFi landscape is extensive, with 17,328 WiFi hotspots recorded across the country. Sydney leads with 3,173 WiFi networks, while Perth offers the best accessibility with only 175 people connected per hotspot.
The country's consistent investment in faster speeds, better accessibility, and the reliability of wireless WAN and public WiFi networks have positively impacted internet usage. This is reflected in the growing number of devices connected to IoT networks and the increasing adoption of WiFi in businesses for logistics, operations, planning, expansion, and security.
Vervain in Australia: Where to Find It
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
As of 2024, there were approximately 25.31 million internet users in Australia, with an internet penetration rate of 94.9%. This number is expected to exceed 23.3 million by 2025.
As of 2023, 86.5% of Australians or about 21.93 million people access the internet at least once a month.
Australia has recorded 17,328 WiFi hotspots as of 2024, with Sydney leading the way with 3,173 WiFi networks.
The average active internet user in Australia spends 5 hours and 51 minutes per day online across various devices. Younger Australians between the ages of 16 and 24 spend the most time online, averaging 7 hours and 11 minutes per day.
Facebook is the most popular social media platform in Australia, with 16.26 million monthly active users as of January 2024. Instagram is also widely used, with 12.97 million active Australian visitors.
