Malta

There were 240,600 internet users in Malta (representing 58.9% of the population) in June 2011, according to Internet World Stats. (Internet world Stats, August 2011)

78% of individuals aged between 16 and 74 (or 245,480) had access to the internet from home during the survey reference period in 2010, according to Malta National Statistics Office's Survey on ICT usage by Enterprises and households 2010.

62% of the total population in the country had access to the internet
Internet access at home by age, 2010 (as a % of the population):
- 16-24: 98.8%
- 25-34: 85.2%
- 35-44: 76.3%
- 45-54: 51.2%
- 55-64: 31.7%
- 65-74: 12.6%

Internet access was most common among individuals aged between 16 and 24, followed by those falling in the 35-44 age bracket. Internet was least common among older persons, with only 30% of individuals aged between 65 and 74 having access to the internet at home.

Among individuals stating that they used the internet during the first quarter of 2010, 79% used internet every day or almost every day, while 17% used the internet at least once a week (but not every day). A majority of 95% of internet users said that they used the internet at home. Just over a third of these internet users also accessed the internet at the place of work.

During the first quarter of 2010, the most common activities for which the Internet was used were sending and receiving emails and searching for information about goods and services, with 88% and 83% respectively. (Malta National Statistics Office, May 2011)

Access

70% of households in Malta had internet access in 2010, compared to 64% in 2009, according to Malta National Statistics Office's Survey on ICT usage by Enterprises and households 2010. The percentage reached 96% among households comprising two adults and children.

The main reason given by households without internet access at home was lack of skill (58%), and was followed by an estimated 32% of households stating that they do not need the internet.

Most households (77% )went online at home using a desktop computer, while 60% used a laptop.

Devices used to access the internet from home, 2010:
- Desktop computer: 77%
- Portable computer: 60%
- Other mobile devices: 8%
- TV set with specific internet device: 2%
- Games console: 5%

(Malta National Statistics Office, May 2011)

eCommerce

The trade of goods and services over the internet went up from 59% in 2009 to 61% in 2010, according to Malta National Statistics Office's Survey on ICT usage by Enterprises and households 2010.

Results showed that 50% of respondents who conducted e-Commerce did so to purchase items of clothing - as in 2009, these continue to be the most common items sought. Books, magazines and newspapers recorded a demand of 37% and represented the second largest group of commodities purchased via e-Commerce. (Malta National Statistics Office, May 2011)

Online travel market

Travel planning

55.8% of internet users in Malta used services related to travel and accommodation online in the first quarter of 2010, according to Malta National Statistics Office's Survey on ICT usage by Enterprises and households 2010. The percentage reached 56.9% among male and 54.4% among female. (Malta National Statistics Office, May 2011)

Travel booking

Hotel accommodation ranked as the third most common items sought online (29.4%)  in 2010 and recorded an increase of 4 percentage points over 2009, according to Malta National Statistics Office's Survey on ICT usage by Enterprises and households 2010.  The percentage for other transport arrangements reached 27.1%, while tickets for events stood at 20.1%. (Malta National Statistics Office, May 2011)

Broadband access

Broadband technology emerged as the main means by which households accessed the internet in Malta, with an estimated 98% of the total number of households having internet access at home in 2010, according to Malta National Statistics Office's Survey on ICT usage by Enterprises and households 2010. This result reflects the current national situation, in which traditional dial-up systems have become increasingly unpopular. (Malta National Statistics Office, May 2011)