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Saudi Arabia is Almost Entirely Online: GASTAT Report

Saudi Arabia Records 99.6% Internet Usage as Online Shopping and Digital Government Services Expand Across the Kingdom

Written By : Akshita Pidiha
Reviewed By : Vijay Laxmi

Saudi Arabia's internet usage has reached 99.6% among individuals aged 15 to 74 in 2026, highlighting the country's widespread adoption of digital technology. Social networking has emerged as the most common online activity, with 99.7% of internet users accessing social platforms.

The figures come from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) through its 2026 ICT Access and Usage Statistics by Households and Individuals report. Internet usage stood at 99.8% among Saudi men and 99.5% among Saudi women. Young people aged 15 to 24 recorded the highest usage rate at 99.9%.

The report also found that 99.3% of individuals aged 15 to 74 accessed the internet from home. Around 98% used the internet daily, while 98.4% accessed it through mobile phones. Social networking topped the list of online activities. Searching for information about products and services ranked second at 65.4%. Video streaming attracted 87.8% of internet users, while 55.2% listened to online audio content. Around 19.4% used the internet for gaming.

Online Shopping and Digital Government Services

Digital government services recorded strong adoption across the Kingdom. Around 98.4% of individuals aged 15 to 74 used the internet to access government services. The figure increased to 98.6% among Saudi citizens. The report also found that 89% of people using online government services obtained electronic forms through digital platforms.

Online shopping showed similar growth, with 74.5% of internet users purchasing goods or services online. Among Saudi citizens, the share reached 84.9%. Saudi women recorded a higher online shopping rate of 86.8%, compared with 83.1% among men. Clothing, footwear, sports goods and household products were the most popular online purchases. These categories accounted for 85.2% of online shoppers. Food, groceries and tobacco followed at 54.4%.

GASTAT said the findings were based on its 2026 household and individual ICT survey. The survey followed standardized methods aligned with internationally recognized statistical practices.

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