A total of 35% of internet users in Cyprus said in 2012 they purchased goods and services online, according to Eurostat data released Tuesday.
The corresponding rate of online shoppers in the 28 EU member states is almost double, nearly 60%, the same data show. The most common online purchases concern clothes, travel and holiday accommodation.
In particular, 18% of internet users in Cyprus, aged 16 to 74, said in 2012 they shopped in the past 12 months for clothes and sports goods, compared to 8% in 2008, while 20% used the internet to purchase travel and holiday accommodation (7% in 2008). Another 6% of online users bought books, magazines and e-learning material, up from 6% in 2008. Food and groceries purchases were marginal, amounting to 1%.
According to Eurostat, 75% of individuals in the 28 EU member states used the internet in the previous 12 months and nearly 60% of these internet users reported that they had shopped online.
Among the member states, the highest shares of online shoppers were registered in the United Kingdom (82% of internet users), Denmark and Sweden (both 79%), Germany (77%), Luxembourg (73%) and Finland (72%), and the lowest in Romania (11%), Bulgaria (17%), Estonia and Italy (both 29%).
EU-wide, one third of internet users purchased online during the previous 12 months clothes and sports goods, as well as travel and holiday accommodation (both 32% in 2012 compared with 21% in 2008).
Almost one quarter of internet users reported that they bought books, magazines or e-learning material from the internet (23% in 2012 compared with 19% in 2008), while fewer than one internet user in ten ordered food & groceries online (9% in 2012 compared with 6% in 2008).
Among member states in 2012, the United Kingdom (51%) and Germany (49%) had the highest shares of internet users having purchased clothes and sports goods online in the previous 12 months.
Sweden (60%) had the highest proportion reporting that they booked travel & holiday accommodation online, followed by Denmark (56%).
Buying books, magazines or e-learning material online was most common in Luxembourg (47%) and Germany (41%). The United Kingdom (21%) was the leading Member State for online food & grocery shopping, while in the majority of Member States this share was 10% or less.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, is publishing data on online purchases, in the context of the European Year of citizens 2013. The week from 14 to 20 October 2013 is dedicated to “Shopping online”.
