A survey conducted in May 2024 revealed that one-third of adults worldwide admitted to acquiring content or digital products and services through illegal means, citing unavailability in official stores. Additionally, almost four in ten Americans chose piracy due to financial constraints, followed by Canadians and Italians at 36 percent and 35 percent, respectively.
Leading reasons to use or acquire content or digital products and services via illegal means worldwide as of May 2024, by country
Characteristic
All
Singapore
Italy
Poland
Canada
France
India
United States
Great Britain
Australia
Spain
United Arab Emirates
Germany
Denmark
Sweden
Mexico
Indonesia
Prices are too high, and I refuse to pay
33%
44%
43%
41%
40%
39%
39%
38%
35%
34%
30%
30%
29%
27%
26%
24%
22%
I don't have enough money to afford all the content I want
29%
29%
35%
32%
36%
31%
25%
37%
33%
27%
32%
28%
28%
20%
22%
26%
29%
The content I want is not available on any official physical/ digital stores in my market
34%
37%
28%
30%
36%
22%
34%
34%
47%
43%
30%
30%
30%
33%
36%
35%
33%
I could/would be willing to pay, but pirating is easier and more convenient than using official channels
21%
29%
13%
20%
24%
14%
35%
19%
18%
22%
13%
23%
20%
18%
25%
17%
20%
Everyone in my community does it, so I do it too
14%
16%
4%
11%
13%
14%
30%
11%
12%
17%
8%
22%
13%
8%
7%
10%
15%
I want the content, but I don't want to give the publishing/developing company any money
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
YouGov. (September 9, 2024). Leading reasons to use or acquire content or digital products and services via illegal means worldwide as of May 2024, by country [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1491598/reasons-illegal-acquisition-digital-media-worldwide/
YouGov. "Leading reasons to use or acquire content or digital products and services via illegal means worldwide as of May 2024, by country." Chart. September 9, 2024. Statista. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1491598/reasons-illegal-acquisition-digital-media-worldwide/
YouGov. (2024). Leading reasons to use or acquire content or digital products and services via illegal means worldwide as of May 2024, by country. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1491598/reasons-illegal-acquisition-digital-media-worldwide/
YouGov. "Leading Reasons to Use or Acquire Content or Digital Products and Services via Illegal Means Worldwide as of May 2024, by Country." Statista, Statista Inc., 9 Sep 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1491598/reasons-illegal-acquisition-digital-media-worldwide/
YouGov, Leading reasons to use or acquire content or digital products and services via illegal means worldwide as of May 2024, by country Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1491598/reasons-illegal-acquisition-digital-media-worldwide/ (last visited November 22, 2024)
Leading reasons to use or acquire content or digital products and services via illegal means worldwide as of May 2024, by country [Graph], YouGov, September 9, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1491598/reasons-illegal-acquisition-digital-media-worldwide/
