Tiago Bianchi
Research expert covering internet & gaming in Latin America and Spain
Internet usage in Mexico - statistics & facts
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Despite the caliber of its online market, Mexico still experiences contradictions rather common to the rest of Latin America & the Caribbean. Ranking only behind Brazil, the country is the region’s second-largest internet market and the world’s 9th largest online audience, with over a hundred million users in 2024. But even with the growth of the Mexican telecommunications industry and the increase in mobile connectivity across the continent, internet penetration and connectivity in Mexico still run behind those of a dozen other Latin American nations due to uneven access distribution and social problems. Nevertheless, Mexicans display incredible levels of engagement, overcoming online obstacles and contributing to the prosperity of sectors like social media and e-commerce, making Mexico one of the world’s most appealing and affluent markets.
Connectivity is not the only issue for internet users in Mexico: lack of digital literacy and financial constraints are also significant barriers to internet usage in the country. Added to its detrimental social inequality, gaps in the internet offer across Mexico not only segregate its online inclusivity by economic levels but also put rural Mexican communities by almost 20 percentage points behind its urban population.
Mexico's success in e-commerce demonstrates the significant potential and abilities of its citizens to engage and profit when they have the right conditions. Similarly, as in other Latin American markets such as Colombia and Peru, social issues continue to hinder its digital landscape and affect other industries, even despite Mexico’s prominent 5G coverage. Therefore, efforts to improve connectivity must be coupled with addressing social problems, allowing Mexico's digital landscape to fulfill its potential across online and offline sectors.
Mexico’s matters of access
In 2023, over 92 percent of the internet users in Mexico accessed the internet via their mobile phones. While contributing to balance the overall online offer for Mexicans, only 78.28 percent of its population have access to mobile internet. Still, most of the country’s internet traffic has originated from desktop devices, a trend amplified by the country’s 5G expansion and the coronavirus pandemic.Connectivity is not the only issue for internet users in Mexico: lack of digital literacy and financial constraints are also significant barriers to internet usage in the country. Added to its detrimental social inequality, gaps in the internet offer across Mexico not only segregate its online inclusivity by economic levels but also put rural Mexican communities by almost 20 percentage points behind its urban population.
How do Mexicans use the internet?
When able to overcome connectivity hurdles, Mexicans display astounding levels of online activity, with over seven hours of daily usage across all devices. Exemplifying their defiance to these problems, finding information, and looking for solutions to the most varied issues are among the most popular reasons to use the service in the country. Meanwhile, over 68 percent of the country’s gamers use their mobile phones for playing while music and video consumption via streaming services rank as one of the most popular online habits for its population. However, instant messaging and social media usage take the crown as Mexican’s favorite online activities. With a penetration rate of over 78 percent across its population, Mexico hosts the region’s second-largest audience for such platforms, constituting one of the world’s most broad and important markets for the segment.Surging e-commerce and Mexico’s online potential
Proportional to the size of its online population, Mexico is the fastest-growing e-commerce market worldwide, growing at a rate of over 25 percent in 2023. The country is the second-largest e-commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean, with over 70 percent of its population being online shoppers. Although revenues registered a slight decrease, the sector still managed to generate around 32.8 million U.S. dollars in 2023. Considering Mexico’s connectivity barriers, mobile devices have become the preferred method for online purchases by Mexicans, showing how investments in mobile connectivity benefit other digital sectors.Mexico's success in e-commerce demonstrates the significant potential and abilities of its citizens to engage and profit when they have the right conditions. Similarly, as in other Latin American markets such as Colombia and Peru, social issues continue to hinder its digital landscape and affect other industries, even despite Mexico’s prominent 5G coverage. Therefore, efforts to improve connectivity must be coupled with addressing social problems, allowing Mexico's digital landscape to fulfill its potential across online and offline sectors.
Tiago Bianchi
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Nov 22, 2024
Tiago Bianchi
Research expert covering internet & gaming in Latin America and Spain
