6. Internet usage

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Internet usage map

Ireland is still among the “colder” regions of Europe when it comes to internet use – EU countries where less than 60% of adults have used the internet in the past three months (see map). The other “nippy” areas on this internet weather map are the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe.

But those who do go on the Internet in Ireland are more enthusiastic and trusting online shoppers than the average European, according to new research from Eurostat.

One third of Irish people aged 16-74 shopped online in the last three months, compared to an EU average of 30% (see table below). But just 3% of Irish people avoided e-Shopping because of concerns over security, compared with 12% of Europeans overall. The Spanish and Finns were most wary, 27% and 26% respectively avoiding online shops.

Meanwhile Irish users are just below the average compared with other EU citizens when it comes to banking online.

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