Internet Usage In Australia: Millions Online

how many people use the internet in australia

Australia's internet population is increasing, with an expected number of over 23.3 million users by 2025. This is a slight increase from the 2023 figure of 21.93 million monthly internet users, which equated to 86.5% of the population. The internet is deeply integrated into Australians' daily lives, with the average user spending nearly 40 hours online each week.

Characteristics Values
Number of internet users in Australia 21.93 million (2023) / 23.3 million (forecast by 2025)
Percentage of the population using the internet 86.5% (2023)
Average daily usage time 3 hours (2023) / 5 hours and 51 minutes (2024) / 40 hours per week (2024)
Number of smart home devices 15.9 million
Social media users 20.8 million (2024) / 80% of the population (2023) / 82.5% of the population (2024)
Most popular social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Australians with Pay TV/Subscription TV 14.5 million (2019)
Video streaming market penetration 70% (2019)
Netflix subscriptions 11.9 million (2019)
Mobile handset subscribers 27 million (2018)
Number of internet subscribers 14.7 million (2018)

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Internet usage statistics as of 2023

As of 2023, Australia has witnessed a significant rise in internet usage, with more than 86.5% of its population, or over 23.5 million people, actively engaging in the online world. This equates to an average daily usage time of more than 180 minutes (three hours) per person per day, with the internet deeply integrated into Australians' daily lives.

Online Activities

The most popular online activities among adult internet users in Australia include email, web browsing, banking, video streaming, and shopping. In particular, the video streaming market penetration is around 70%, with Netflix as the market leader, boasting 57% of Australian households as subscribers in 2019.

Devices and Connections

In terms of devices, desktop computers remain the most popular in Australia as of July 2023, with a market share of 52.5%. Mobile devices are a close second at 43%, while tablets lag behind at 4.6%. However, it's worth noting that mobile internet connections are now much faster due to the widespread availability of 5G, with Australia boasting some of the fastest mobile internet speeds in the developed world.

Social Media Usage

Social media usage is also prominent in Australia, with Facebook being the most popular platform. More than 63% of Australians log onto Facebook at least once a month, and it has 16.19 million active users as of 2023. Other popular platforms include WhatsApp with 11.36 million active users, Instagram with 10.96 million, and Snapchat with 3.32 million. Overall, Australia has approximately 21.3 million social media users as of January 2023, representing 81% of its total population.

Search Engines

Google is the most popular search engine in Australia in 2023, capturing 95% of the market share. Bing and Yahoo! are a distant second and third, with 3.75% and 0.73% market share, respectively.

Future Projections

Looking ahead, the number of internet users in Australia is expected to continue growing. By 2025, the country's online audience is projected to reach 21.6 million, with internet penetration potentially surpassing 94.9%.

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Australia's internet population is on an upward trajectory, with a forecasted 23.3 million users by 2025. This growth is mirrored globally, with an expected 7.3 billion users in the next five years, peaking in 2029.

As a developed country, Australia is quick to adopt new technologies, and the internet is deeply ingrained in Australians' daily lives. This is reflected in the average active internet user's daily screen time, which is expected to be 5 hours and 51 minutes via mobile phones, tablets, and computers in 2024.

Social media platforms have surpassed television as Australia's primary news source. As of 2024, there are 20.8 million social media users in Australia, with 82.5% of Australians being active users, a slight decrease from 2023's 84.8%. Facebook is the most popular platform, with 63% of Australians logging on at least once a month, followed by Instagram at 21%. TikTok, however, boasts the highest average time per user, with 42 hours and 13 minutes per user monthly.

The majority of Australians 61% use social media in the evening, and for many 59%, it's the first thing they check in the morning. Social media usage also extends into work breaks for 42% of users. These trends highlight the integral role of social media in Australians' daily routines.

For marketers, understanding these trends is crucial to effectively reaching consumers. With the internet and social media reshaping eCommerce, businesses must stay abreast of evolving trends to remain competitive.

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Predicted growth by 2025

Australia's internet population is expected to exceed 23.3 million by 2025, with one source stating that there were 25.21 million internet users in Australia in January 2025. This is a continuation of the upward trend in Australia's internet usage, with 86.5% of Australians online in 2023, and 25.31 million internet users in 2024.

The average active internet user in 2024 spent 5 hours and 51 minutes per day online, and Australians are spending nearly 40 hours per week online. This is expected to continue in 2025, with the importance of capturing this internet traffic for businesses emphasised.

In 2024, there were 20.8 million social media users in Australia, with 82.5% of Australians being active users. This is a slight drop of 2.3% from 2023, but the number of social media users is still projected to grow. By 2029, Australian social media users are projected to grow by 2.1 million, reaching 26.68 million. As of 2024, there were roughly 13 million LinkedIn users in Australia, and this figure is expected to grow by 500,000 in the following five years.

In 2024, Facebook was the most popular social media platform in Australia, with over 21 million users. However, TikTok has the highest average time per user, with a record of 42 hours and 13 minutes per user every month. In 2025, social media ad spending is projected to reach US$4.73 billion (AU$7.5 billion).

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The rise of video streaming

Australia's internet population is on an upward trajectory, with an expected total of over 23.3 million by 2025. This is part of a broader trend of increasing internet usage, with the average active internet user in Australia spending 5 hours and 51 minutes per day online in 2024.

Netflix remains the market leader, with 11.9 million Australians (57% of the population) having a Netflix subscription in their household in 2019. This is followed by Disney+, which surpassed one million downloads in Australia just a month after its launch in late 2019. Other popular services include Kayo, Binge, Amazon Prime, and local platforms like 9Now and ABC iview.

The video streaming market penetration in Australia is around 70%, with SVOD penetration now at around 90%, indicating that many Australians subscribe to multiple services. This trend is reflected in research, which shows that audiences are willing to subscribe to multiple platforms to access a diverse range of content.

With the internet playing an integral role in various aspects of daily life, understanding the video streaming market and staying updated with trends is crucial for marketers across industries. As Australia is at the forefront of adopting new technologies, businesses must adapt their strategies to effectively reach their target audiences in this evolving digital landscape.

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Mobile internet usage

The demand for mobile data in Australia has surged, driven by the increasing popularity of streaming platforms, the rise in connected devices, and the need for reliable connections for remote work. As of 2023, Netflix and Disney+ boasted 9.8 million subscribers in Australia, while Kayo, Stan, Binge, and Optus Sport had a combined 6.5 million subscribers. This surge in streaming services has resulted in a tenfold increase in household data consumption over the last decade.

The leading telecommunications companies in Australia, Telstra, Optus, and TPG Telecom, dominate the mobile handset services market, delivering data services through 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies. The rollout of 5G mobile technology poses a competitive challenge to the National Broadband Network (NBN) as it offers faster speeds, increased reliability, and larger data capacities.

The average time spent online each day in Australia is high, with Australians spending more than 180 minutes (three hours) online per day as of 2023. This extensive internet usage includes a variety of activities such as web browsing, banking, video streaming, and online shopping.

Overall, mobile internet usage in Australia is prevalent and continues to grow, driven by advancements in technology, evolving consumer behaviour, and the increasing integration of the internet into daily life.

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Frequently asked questions

As of 2023, approximately 86.5% of Australians were online, which equates to around 21.93 million people.

As of 2024, approximately 82.5% of Australians were active social media users, which amounts to around 20.8 million people.

Australians spend nearly 40 hours per week online, with the average active internet user in 2024 spending 5 hours and 51 minutes per day online.

The most popular online activities of adult internet users in Australia include email, web browsing, banking, video streaming, and shopping.

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