Riyadh:Internet use among individuals aged 15 to 74 in Saudi Arabia reached 99.6% in 2026, with 99.8% of Saudi males and 99.5% of Saudi females utilizing the internet, as per the Survey on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Access and Use in Households and by Individuals released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
According to Saudi Press Agency, the survey indicated that the age group of 15 to 24 recorded the highest usage rate at 99.9%. Furthermore, 99.3% of individuals reported accessing the internet from home, with 98.0% using it at least once daily. Mobile phones emerged as the primary device for internet access, used by 98.4%, followed by laptops at 13.9% and tablets at 12.3%.
Social networking was the most popular online activity, with 99.7% of internet users engaging in it. Watching video content followed, with 87.8% participation, and searching for information on goods and services was at 65.4%. Listening to audio content and gaming were also significant activities, with 55.2% and 19.4% of users participating, respectively.
E-government services saw high engagement, with 98.4% of individuals using them, which increased to 98.6% among Saudis. The most accessed e-government service was obtaining government forms electronically, with usage by 89.0% of users.
In terms of e-commerce, 74.5% of internet users in Saudi Arabia purchased goods and services online, with higher engagement among Saudis at 84.9%. Among Saudi females, 86.8% engaged in online shopping compared to 83.1% of Saudi males. The most common purchases included clothing, footwear, sports equipment, and household items at 85.2%, followed by food, groceries, and tobacco at 54.4%. Books, magazines, and newspapers accounted for 22.8% of online purchases.
GASTAT compiles its statistics using a unified methodology that aligns with international standards, facilitating global comparison of indicators and fulfilling the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals.