A new survey from the Central Statistics Office shows that 79% of internet users purchased goods and/or services online in 2021.
The CSO's Household Digital Consumer Behaviour survey shows that the number of women making purchases online was higher than men. Of female internet users, 83% purchased online, compared with 75% of males.
Today's figures show that the most popular online purchase in 2021 was clothes (including sports clothing), shoes or accessories (including bags and jewellery) with 80% of internet users buying such items.
The CSO's survey also reveals that 50% of internet users made online purchases of ready-made food delivered from restaurants, fast food chains or catering delivery services.
16% of internet users also bought food and drinks from stores or meal-kit or food box providers.
The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in remote working from home and today's CSO survey shows that 80% of internet users used internet telephoning/video calls using the like of Microsoft Teams, Skype and Zoom.
Email was the most popular activity carried out on the internet with 93% of internet users surveyed during the year saying they used email.
People also chose to use online communication channels, and 70% of internet users said they used social networking.
The CSO data shows that the younger you are, the more likely you are to use social networking. 89% of people aged 16 to 29 years communicated on social network platforms during 2021.
Instant messaging such as via Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp and Viber was reported by 84% of internet users, the CSO added.
People also decided to upskill during the year using online resources.
31% of survey participants reported doing an online course, compared with just 13% in 2019 - the last pre-pandemic year.
The CSO's Maureen Delamere said that life in Ireland has changed quite substantially as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the introduction of restrictions on movement has seen the number of hours people spend on the internet for work or personal reasons increase.
