Italians are embracing the internet, with levels of digitalization in the country experiencing a constant increase in recent years. The digital population in Italy is estimated to have surpassed more than 47 million active internet users. While the country still occupies a lower position in the ranking of most digitalized countries in the European Union, its share of internet users has grown constantly, reaching 78.5 percent of the country’s population in 2022.
Between 2015 and 2022, the number of internet users based in the south of Italy increased from 53 percent to more than 74 percent, a sign that the existing digitalization gap between the south of the country and other geographical areas might be starting to decrease. In 2022, the share of online users connecting to the internet every day was 63.4 percent, while only around 20 percent of the Italian population reported not using the internet. Students and professionals reportedly had the highest share of internet users in the country, while only a smaller percentage of Italian homemakers used the internet daily, while pensioners were the occupational group least likely to use the internet daily in 2022.
As of 2023, mobile phones were more popular devices for accessing the internet than laptop or desktop computers, while web traffic from tablets made up only two percent of the total. Mobile messengers were the most popular type of apps used among Italians in 2023, while dating apps were only used by around 10 percent of respondents.
Among teens aged between 15 and 17 years, 93.5 percent reported accessing the internet every day, while only 4.2 percent reported going online on a weekly basis. The majority of Italia teens aged between 15 and 19 reported using the internet every day, while surprisingly, around three percent of users aged between 20 and 24 reported not using the internet, while around four percent of users between 25 and 34 years reported the same in 2022.
Between 2015 and 2022, the number of internet users based in the south of Italy increased from 53 percent to more than 74 percent, a sign that the existing digitalization gap between the south of the country and other geographical areas might be starting to decrease. In 2022, the share of online users connecting to the internet every day was 63.4 percent, while only around 20 percent of the Italian population reported not using the internet. Students and professionals reportedly had the highest share of internet users in the country, while only a smaller percentage of Italian homemakers used the internet daily, while pensioners were the occupational group least likely to use the internet daily in 2022.
As of 2023, mobile phones were more popular devices for accessing the internet than laptop or desktop computers, while web traffic from tablets made up only two percent of the total. Mobile messengers were the most popular type of apps used among Italians in 2023, while dating apps were only used by around 10 percent of respondents.
Most popular online activities in Italy
In February 2022, member communities such as online forums and social media occupied the Italian digital population for over 17 hours every month, while instant messaging and online video consumption were also among the most engaging activities, with users spending around 11 hours and almost six hours on websites in these categories, respectively. In May 2023, search websites were used by more than 75 percent of Italy's digital audiences, followed by web services and internet tools websites, with a usage rate of 71 percent. Both Google.com and the country-specific domain Google.it ranked among the most visited websites by users based in Italy, with Google.com amassing almost two billion visits in November 2022. Users aged between 18 and 24 years spent 33 percent of their time online engaging with entertainment content, as well as 28 percent on social media. Engaging with social media was also a popular activity for users aged 45 and over, spending on this content category approximately 22 percent of their time online.Among teens aged between 15 and 17 years, 93.5 percent reported accessing the internet every day, while only 4.2 percent reported going online on a weekly basis. The majority of Italia teens aged between 15 and 19 reported using the internet every day, while surprisingly, around three percent of users aged between 20 and 24 reported not using the internet, while around four percent of users between 25 and 34 years reported the same in 2022.
