Internet usage on mobile phone by age GB 2010-2019

Those aged 16 to 24 are the most likely to have accessed the internet on a mobile in Great Britain during 2018, according to the United Kingdom’s (UK) Office for National Statistics. Usage rates for those aged 25 to 34 increased slightly from 2018 to 2019, reaching 97 percent.

Smartphone ownership

    95 percent of people aged 16 to 34 years in the UK owned a smartphone as of 2018. While ownership rates decline with age, the share of people over the age of 55 who own a smartphone has increased. 42 percent of people in this age bracket owned a smartphone in 2016, while this figure exceeded 50 percent for the first time in 2018. Globally, it is expected that 40 percent of the population will own a smartphone by 2021.

Apple at the top of the tree

Apple are the leading smartphone manufacture in the UK as of 2018, holding a market share of 51.46 percent. Apple continue to generally increase their share of the market, increasing their stake from 46.01 percent in 2010. Samsung held 28.86 percent of the market in 2018.

Share of individuals who accessed the internet on a mobile phone in Great Britain from 2010 to 2019, by age

Characteristic	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65+
2019	100%	97%	91%	88%	73%	40%
2018	92%	94%	90%	82%	62%	28%
2017	97%	94%	93%	82%	64%	26%
2016	97%	96%	88%	79%	57%	21%
2015	90%	91%	87%	66%	49%	16%
2014	87%	86%	78%	62%	41%	11%
2013	89%	83%	70%	51%	29%	9%
2012	87%	81%	69%	46%	29%	8%
2011	70%	62%	46%	29%	16%	3%
2010	43%	44%	30%	21%	9%	2%

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Release date

August 2019

More information

Region

United Kingdom (Great Britain)

Survey time period

2010 to 2019

Number of respondents

1,800**

Age group

16 years and older

Special properties

internet use on a mobile phone within the last three months

Method of interview

Online survey

Supplementary notes

* The source indicates: "The source of this information is the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OLS). The OLS is a multi-purpose survey developed by ONS for use by government departments, other public bodies, charities, academics and the media. It provides a fast, cost effective and reliable way of obtaining information on topics too brief to warrant their own survey."
** The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey is carried out by interviewing a nationally representative sample of households in Great Britain. About 1,800 households are sampled each month and estimates are subject to sampling variability, as are those from all sample surveys.
Data for years prior to 2011 published earlier by the source.

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