Raylo phone leasing review
Raylo is looking to revolutionise the mobile phone market with its eco-friendly mobile leasing service.
Read more…Mobile phone and internet usage statistics
The latest statistics on how we use our smartphones and the internet in the UK.
We look at the latest mobile internet and smartphone statistics, including how many people own a smartphone, the number of internet users in the UK and how many of us use apps for online banking.
Quick overview
- In 2023, 87% of UK adults own a smartphone.
- 96% of 16- to 24-year-olds own a smartphone, but just 69% of over-65s own a smartphone.
- Brits spend an average of 4 hours and 14 minutes a day on their smartphones.
- There are 66.11 million internet users in the UK, around 98% of the population.
- 7% of UK households do not have access to the internet at home in 2023.
- A quarter (25%) of those aged 65 and over don’t have access to the internet at home.
- There are estimated to be 60.2 million mobile internet users in 2023.
- Almost 1 in 5 internet users (18%) only go online via a smartphone.
- 8 in 10 people (81%) say their smartphone keeps them up at night.
- Three-quarters (76%) of people with smartphones use banking apps.
- EE is the most popular mobile network in all regions, with almost 1 in 4 (23%) people using it.
How many people own a smartphone in the UK?
In 2023, 87% of UK adults own a smartphone. Interestingly, this is down slightly from 89% in 2022, but up 27 percentage points from 2014, when only three-fifths (60%) of the UK adult population owned a smartphone.
| Year | Percentage of smartphone users |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 60% |
| 2015 | 66% |
| 2016 | 71% |
| 2017 | 76% |
| 2018 | 78% |
| 2019 | 79% |
| 2020 | 82% |
| 2021 | 87% |
| 2022 | 89% |
| 2023 | 87% |
Smartphone ownership by age in the UK
In 2023, 96% of 16- to 24-year-olds own a smartphone, the highest of any age group. Ownership among 25- to 34-year-olds and 35- to 54-year-olds is also high, at 94% and 95%, respectively.
Smartphone ownership drops with the older age groups, however, as just 77% of those aged 55 to 64 and 69% of those aged 65 and over use a smartphone.
| Age group | Percentage of smartphone users |
|---|---|
| 65+ | 69% |
| 55-64 | 77% |
| 35-54 | 95% |
| 25-34 | 94% |
| 16-24 | 96% |
How long do Brits spend on their phones?
Brits spend an average of 4 hours and 14 minutes a day on their smartphones as of 2022. The average time spent on phones has increased each year, going from just 3 hours in 2019 to over 4 hours in 2022. 8 in 10 people (81%) say their smartphone keeps them up at night.
How many people have internet access in the UK?
There are approximately 66.1 million internet users in the UK, which equates to almost 98% of the population. However, only 93% of UK households have access to the internet at home, meaning that 7% do not. Interestingly, almost 1 in 5 internet users (18%) only go online via a smartphone.
The percentage of those without home access to the internet increases with age. While between 0% and 2% of 16- to 54-year-olds are without access, 7% of those aged 55-64 are without access. More significantly, 1 in 4 people (25%) aged 65 and over do not have access to the internet at home.
| Year | Percentage of households with internet access at home |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 93% |
| 2021 | 94% |
| 2020 | 92% |
| 2019 | 92% |
| 2018 | 90% |
| 2017 | 90% |
| 2016 | 89% |
| 2015 | 86% |
| 2014 | 84% |
| 2013 | 83% |
| 2012 | 80% |
| 2011 | 77% |
| 2010 | 73% |
| 2009 | 70% |
| 2008 | 65% |
| 2007 | 61% |
| 2006 | 57% |
| 2005 | 55% |
| 2004 | 49% |
| 2003 | 46% |
| 2002 | 42% |
| 2001 | 36% |
| 2000 | 25% |
| 1999 | 13% |
| 1998 | 9% |
What types of apps are the most popular in the UK?
Overall, the most popular apps are banking apps, with three-quarters (76%) of those with smartphones using these in the UK. Messaging apps come in second place as 7 in 10 smartphone users use WhatsApp, Messenger and other similar apps.
Two-thirds of smartphone users have social media apps, while 63% make use of maps or other navigation apps. Shopping apps such as Amazon, eBay or Ocado are also popular, with three-fifths (61%) using these on their smartphones.
| App type | Percentage of smartphone users |
|---|---|
| Banking | 76% |
| Messaging apps | 71% |
| Social media | 67% |
| Maps and navigations | 63% |
| Shopping | 61% |
| Music streaming | 49% |
| Payment services | 48% |
| Food delivery | 46% |
| News | 44% |
| TV and video | 41% |
| Games | 39% |
| Travel and transport | 33% |
| Fitness and health | 30% |
Banking apps and messaging apps are the most popular among those aged 35 to 54, whilst banking apps and social media apps like Snapchat and Tiktok are most popular among those aged between 16 and 34. For those aged 55 and over, messaging apps are the most popular type, although their usage of apps is overall a lot lower than their younger counterparts.
| App | 16-24 users | 25-34 users | 35-54 users | 55+ users | 65+ users |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banking | 84 | 90 | 83 | 56 | 46 |
| Social media | 82% | 82% | 73% | 47% | 36% |
| Messaging apps | 78% | 79% | 77% | 59% | 51% |
| Music streaming | 68% | 60% | 54% | 29% | 19% |
| Shopping | 67% | 72% | 69% | 44% | 37% |
| Food delivery | 67% | 63% | 50% | 24% | 18% |
| Maps and navigations | 63% | 72% | 70% | 50% | 43% |
| Payment services | 63% | 62% | 54% | 28% | 21% |
| Games | 62% | 46% | 44% | 22% | 18% |
| TV and video | 53% | 52% | 46% | 24% | 17% |
| News | 44% | 46% | 51% | 36% | 32% |
| Travel and transport | 41% | 41% | 38% | 21% | 14% |
| Fitness and health | 35% | 38% | 37% | 17% | 11% |
What do we use our mobile phones for?
Using your phone to make calls is the most popular use of a mobile phone for all ages, as an average of 93% of those aged 16 and over use their phones to make calls. Texting is another popular use of phones, with an average of 91% of people using their phone for this reason.
Those aged 65 and over prefer to make calls on their phone rather than text, as 95% make calls while 87% use their phone for texting.
| What do you use your phone for? | 16-24 | 25-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | 65+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texting | 91% | 93% | 95% | 90% | 87% |
| Making calls | 90% | 93% | 94% | 94% | 95% |
| Internet browsing | 89% | 91% | 88% | 63% | 51% |
| Taking photos/videos | 87% | 91% | 89% | 72% | 63% |
| Using social media | 69% | 73% | 63% | 34% | 25% |
| Emails | 68% | 73% | 74% | 50% | 41% |
| Listening to music | 65% | 61% | 50% | 23% | 14% |
| News | 55% | 65% | 67% | 45% | 37% |
How many hours a week do people spend online?
Three-fifths of UK adults spend 15 or more hours online per week in 2023, while a further third (34%) spend between 14 hours or less online. Only 2% of the population spends no time whatsoever online in a typical week.
When it comes to hours spent online by age group, three-fifths (60%) of 16- to 24-year-olds report going online for 23 hours or more, and a further 19% spend 15-22 hours a week online. On the other hand, less than 1 in 5 (18%) of those aged 65 and over spend 23 hours or more online in a week, and the majority (61%) spend 14 hours or less online.
| Hours spent online in 2023 | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Over 50 hours | 11% |
| 40-49 hours | 10% |
| 30-39 hours | 12% |
| 23-29 hours | 12% |
| 15-22 hours | 15% |
| 8-14 hours | 17% |
| Up to 7 | 17% |
| None | 2% |
What is the most popular mobile network?
EE is the most popular mobile network, with almost 1 in 4 people (23%) using it. They are closely followed by O2, which has almost 1 in 5 (18%) people using it. 14% of Brits choose Vodafone as their main mobile network provider, while 1 in 10 (9%) opt for Three.
| Mobile network | Percentage of people using it |
|---|---|
| EE | 23% |
| O2 | 18% |
| Vodafone | 14% |
| Three | 9% |
| Tesco | 6% |
| Giffgaff | 5% |
| Sky Mobile | 5% |
| Virgin | 4% |
| Asda Mobile | 3% |
| BT | 3% |
More guides on Finder
-
Financial adviser vs coach: Who to talk to about your money
From financial advisers to accountants – if you need help with your personal finances, here’s who to talk to about what.
-
Inflation around the world: Global inflation tracker and map
Global inflation tracker: check out our map with the most recent inflation data for 180 countries around the world.
-
3 in 10 Brits are planning to set a money resolution for 2024
New research reveals more Brits plan to make a New Year’s resolution for the coming year, with health and money top priorities.
-
When will interest rates come down in the UK?
Some of the UK’s brightest minds in economics and property share their interest rate predictions ahead of the next Bank of England base rate meeting.
-
Cost of living statistics UK: 2024
We looked into what Brits are planning to sacrifice to keep their savings and finances afloat amid a cost of living crisis.
-
Easter statistics: Celebrations and spending in the UK
Our research revealed that Brits will spend an estimated £960 million during the Easter period, averaging around £28.61 per person.
-
Debit card usage statistics UK: 2024
Debit cards are an extremely versatile and popular way of spending, so we decided to investigate how we Brits are using our debit cards.
-
Digital banking statistics 2024: How many Brits use online banking?
Digital-only banks are becoming increasingly popular so we look at the latest digital and online banking statistics in the UK.
-
Current account switching statistics
We look at the latest current account statistics, including how many people are switching and the top reasons for doing so.
-
What is the FSCS?
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme protects customers’ money if their bank or building society fails. But how does it work and are you covered?