Usage Patterns
| Total Online Population (000's) in 2011 | 8113 |
| Percentage of Population Online in 2011 | 77.8% |
Demographics
There were 8,113,200 internet users in Belgium (representing 77.8% of the population) in June 2011, according to Internet World Stats. (Internet World Stats, August 2011)
Of Europe's 372 million unique visitors, Belgium accounted for 6.0 million unique visitors during August 2011, according to comScore. Users in Belgium spent an average of 19.9 hours online in the past month, consuming 2,116 pages online. (comScore, October 2011)
77% of people aged 16 to 75 years old in Belgium went online every day or almost every day in 2010, according to Statistics Belgium.
The five most popular activities carried out online in 2010 were sending/receiving emails (93% of people aged 16 to 75 years old), online banking (66%), online learning/training (50%), reading news/magazines (49%), and looking for health-related information (47%). (Statistics Belgium, February 2011)
Access
73% of households in Belgium with at least one person aged between 16 and 75 years old had access to the internet in 2010, according to Statistics Belgium. This represented a 6% increase compared to 2009 and a 23% increase on 2005 figure. The majority of households not online believe that internet has no use to them (43%), while 30% blame the high cost of the equipment.
Most households connected to the internet via a PC (65%) and/or laptop (64%).
Devices used to connect to the internet among online households in Belgium, 2010:
- PC: 65%
- Laptop: 64%
- GSM with GPRS/ UMTS or 3G: 14%
- Handheld devices (PDA, palmtop etc.): 4%
- Mobile/smartphones: 16%
- Smart TV: 7%
- Game console: 8%
- Don't know: 1%
(Statistics Belgium, February 2011)
Social Networking and UGC
39% of internet users aged 16 to 74 years old in Belgium (and who went online in the last three months) used social networking site/forums in 2010, according to Statistics Belgium. (Statistics Belgium, February 2011)
eCommerce
More than one out of five (27%) internet users aged 16 to 74 years old in Belgium (and who went online in the last three months) made a purchase online in 2010, according to Statistics Belgium. (Statistics Belgium, February 2011)
Online travel market
Travel planning
49% of internet users aged 16 to 74 years old in Belgium (and and who went online in the last three months) use the internet for travel-related purposes in 2010, according to Statistics Belgium. The percentage reached 50% among men and 48% among female.
Internet use for travel-related purposes in 2010 in Belgium among internet users aged 26-74 by age:
- 16-24: 35%
- 25-34: 51%
- 35-44: 52%
- 45-54: 52%
- 55-64: 50%
- 65-74: 57%
(Statistics Belgium, February 2011)
Travel booking
45% of internet users aged 16 to 74 years old in Belgium who made an online purchase (in the last three months) booked travel/travel packages online in 2010, according to Statistics Belgium. 36% booked accommodation, 26% booked travel transport tickets, and 37% booked events tickets. (Statistics Belgium, February 2011)
Mobile Devices
Mobile / Smartphones
While 66% of internet users aged 16 to 75 in Belgium claimed not to connect to the internet wirelessly in 2010, 19% indicated that they went only using a 3G connection on their laptop, according to Statistics Belgium.
Percentage of internet users aged 16 to 75 years old connecting to the internet wirelessly, by type:
- Via a mobile phone with 2G: 8%
- Via a mobile phone with 3G: 5%
- Via a mobile phone with 2G/3G/or other mean: 12%
- Via an handled devices (PDA): 5%
- Via a laptop with 3G: 19%
- None of the above: 66%
(Statistics Belgium, February 2011)
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 February 2012 13:53
