Two out of three Estonian residents use the Internet

Men and women used computers almost equally. Students and pupils were the most eager users of computers and the Internet; practically all of them used computers and the Internet. By age groups most computer and Internet users are among younger ones.

Among population aged 16–74 the use of computers at home has increased and the use of computers at another person’s home has decreased. The most popular activities by using the Internet were Internet banking, reading newspapers/magazines, finding information about goods or services and sending/receiving e-mails. If three out of ten urban residents use telephoning over the Internet, then among rural residents two out of ten. From skills of using the Internet, most common were using a search engine to find information and sending e-mails with attached files. Among younger persons also posting messages to chat-rooms is widespread.

In the 1st quarter of 2008 58% of Estonian households had access to the Internet at home, compared to the same period of the previous year this indicator has increased five percentage points. Internet-connection at home was more popular among households with children and households with three or more adults. Estonian households pointed out as main reasons for not having Internet-connection at home the lack of skills and the high costs of equipment and access. Many of rural households also pointed out no need for Internet.

Statistics Estonia conducts the survey of information technology usage by persons aged 16–74 and in households as annex of the Labour Force Survey since 2005. The survey is carried out in the 2nd quarter, the reference period is the 1st quarter. The usage of information technology in households and by individuals aged 16–74 is studied by statistical organisations in all European Union Member States on the basis of harmonised methodology. Household is a group of persons who live at the same address and share joint financial resources and whose members consider themselves to be members of one household, while family is based on relationship or kinship.