Here is some interesting data about the use of the Internet across Europe in 2011 - the Eurostat report of Internet useby individuals and households in 2011 and is important data for any business looking to online marketing or communication:

• In the EU27, almost three quarters of households had access to the internet in the first quarter of 2011, compared with almost half in the first quarter of 2006
• The share of households with broadband internet connections more than doubled between 2006 and 2011, to reach 68% in 2011 compared with 30% in 2006
  
• During the same period, the share of individuals aged 16-74 in the EU27 who had never used the internet decreased from 42% to 24%
• Shares of internet access of 90% and over were recorded in the Netherlands (94%), Luxembourg and Sweden (both 91%) and Denmark (90%)
• Shares of 50% and below were registered in Bulgaria (45%), Romania (47%) and Greece (50%)
• Sweden (86%) registered the highest share of broadband connections in 2011, followed by Denmark (84%), the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (both 83%) and Finland (81%), while Romania (31%), Bulgaria (40%) and Greece (45%) had the lowest
• The highest proportions of those having never used the internet were observed in Romania (54% of individuals aged 16-74), Bulgaria (46%), Greece (45%), Cyprus and Portugal (both 41%), and the lowest in Sweden (5%), Denmark and the Netherlands (both 7%), Luxembourg (8%) and Finland (9%)
• Almost half of internet users4 aged 16-74 in the EU27 used the internet within the last 12 months to obtain information from websites of public authorities, and 28% to submit completed forms to public authorities, for example tax declarations (e-government)

• In 2011, 58% of internet users in the EU27 had ordered goods or services over the internet (e-commerce) within the last 12 months - t highest shares were observed in the United Kingdom (82%), Denmark and Germany (both 77%) and Sweden (75%).

Note: The survey covered households with at least one person aged 16-74, and individuals aged 16-74. The main reference period was the first quarter of 2011. Households were asked about internet access by any member of the household at home. Individuals were asked about frequency of internet use and about activities they had carried out on the internet in the last three months prior to the survey for private purposes, or in the last twelve months for e-government and e-commerce activities, at home or at any other location.

The research was reported in the Irish media and the headline that captured attention was that mMore than one-in-five Irish people aged 16-74 have never used the internet (down from 42% of Irish people in 2006).

The Digital Agenda for Europe aims to reduce the share of individuals in Europe who have never used the internet to 15% by 2015.

Access a PDF of the research here.

A Eurobarometer poll which involved 26,574 Europeans (research completed November-December 2010 and published in June 2011) shows that Irish Internet users are the fourth most likely in the EU to use social networking sites and the third most likely to go online to share photos, videos or movies. 

• Online Shopping - 73% of Irish internet users buy goods or services online which is the fifth highest in Europe - the EU average is 60%

• Social Networking - 68% of Irish people use social networking sites, the fourth highest rate in Europe - the EU average was 52%

• Photo Sharing - Irish users were also third most likely to use websites to share pictures, videos and movies at 58% - The EU average was only 44%.

• Blogging - 15% of Irish people surveyed maintain a blog, well above the EU average of 6%.

The reporthas a strong focus on data protection and online privacy - 30% of Irish respondents who had disclosed personal information on social networking or sharing sites feel in complete control of this information and 50% feel in partial control. 15% feel they have no control at all. This compares across the EU to 26% feel in complete control, 52% feel in partial control and 20% feel they have no control of personal information shared or disclosed.

Photo credit - Webtreats on Flickr