Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Online shopping in the European Union continues to expand, according to the latest annual survey on the use of information and communication technologies in households and individuals. According to what was published by the European Statistical Office "Eurostat" in Brussels,
In 2024, 77% of Internet users bought or ordered goods or services for personal use online in the previous 12 months, up from 59% in 2014, representing an increase of 17 percentage points.
The highest percentages of Internet users who made online purchases in 2024 were in Ireland (96%), the Netherlands (94%), and Denmark (91%). Conversely, Bulgaria had the lowest share at 57%, followed by Italy and Romania, both at 60%.
From 2014 to 2024, significant growth was observed in Romania (+43 percentage points, from 17% to 60%), Hungary (+37 percentage points, from 42% to 79%), and Lithuania (+36 percentage points, from 36% to 72%).
Top online purchases in 2024: clothing in the lead
Clothing (including sportswear), shoes and accessories were the most frequently purchased items online in 2024, with 45% of people making such purchases in the previous three months. This was followed by food deliveries from restaurants, fast food chains and catering services (21%), cosmetics and wellness products (20%), and furniture, home accessories or gardening tools (19%). Next were sports equipment (excluding sportswear), printed books, magazines and newspapers, and health supplements such as vitamins (excluding online prescription renewals), each with a share of 16%.