In the first half of 2024, 81 percent of the population aged 12 years or older said they had made online purchases. This was the highest percentage recorded in the past ten years. Purchasing transport tickets and booking holiday rental accommodation online has increased significantly compared to previous years. This is according to the survey on ICT usage by households and individuals, conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
This survey is carried out annually from April to June. Approximately 6 thousand people aged 12 years or older participate in this survey. In 2024, approximately 12.6 million people aged 12 years and over said they had purchased products or services online during the three months preceding the survey.Online shopping saw a sharp increase in 2020 and 2021, when people spent more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic. It declined in 2022, before picking up again in 2023 and 2024.

Online purchases of personal care products increased slightly

Fifty-nine percent of the population aged 12 years or older bought clothes, sportswear, shoes or accessories such as bags and jewellery online. As a result, those articles topped the list of products most commonly purchased online, comparable to previous years. Forty percent of people ordered meals online from a restaurant, fast food chain or caterer, around the same percentage as in 2023. In addition, more than a quarter of people bought cosmetics and sporting goods online, similar to the previous year. Over 20 percent of them bought furniture, home accessories, personal care items or food. Purchases of personal care items increased compared with 2023.

Increase in online purchases of computer software or upgrades

Among people aged 12 and over, 49 percent bought films or series via a streaming service or as downloads. That was similar to the percentage in 2023. The number of internet subscriptions or renewals rose from 44 percent in 2023 to 49 percent in 2024. Online purchases of computer software or upgrades also increased compared to 2023, as well as other paid apps.

Online shopping most popular among people aged 25 to 44

People aged 25 to 44 were the most likely to shop online; in 2024, 94 percent of them bought goods or services online. Among people aged 75 or older, 41 percent made purchases online, which is similar to the percentage in 2023. The increase was largest among people aged 65 to 74; in 2024, 73 percent of them made purchases online compared to 64 percent in 2023.

Source: https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2024/48/over-8-in-10-people-shop-online

Image: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ecommerce-online-shopping-3082813/