Digital connectivity has become a defining feature of everyday life in Saudi Arabia, where internet access now extends to almost the entire population.
New figures from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) put internet usage among individuals aged 15 to 74 at 99.6% in 2026, underscoring the unparalleled widespread adoption of online services and platforms across the Kingdom.
Digital Access Becomes Almost Universal
According to GASTAT’s 2026 ICT Access and Usage by Households and Individuals Survey, usage reached 99.8% among Saudi males and 99.5% among Saudi females. The highest rate was recorded among individuals aged 15 to 24, at 99.9%, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The widespread adoption of internet connectivity is also reflected in how frequently people go online and the devices they use to remain connected.
GASTAT reported that 99.3% of individuals accessed the internet at home, while 98% used it daily, highlighting that online connectivity has become a defining feature of household routines.
Mobile phones accounted for the largest share of internet access, at 98.4%, compared with 13.9% for laptops and 12.3% for tablets.
This gap signals the dominant position of smartphones in the Kingdom’s digital landscape.
Why Does Social Media Dominate Online Activity?
Remarkably, social networking platforms occupy a central place in Saudi Arabia’s online landscape, emerging as the most widely used category of internet activity.
GASTAT’s findings showed that 99.7% of internet users took part in social networking, with equal rates among males and females.
Searching for information about goods and services ranked second, accounting for 65.4% of users.
Online engagement also extends to entertainment and digital content consumption. Some 87.8% of internet users watched videos online, while 55.2% listened to audio content. Meanwhile, online gaming accounted for 19.4%.
Public Services Move into the Digital Space
More tellingly, digital government services have become a widely used part of everyday life in Saudi Arabia, with 98.4% of individuals accessing government services online.
Among Saudi nationals, the rate reached 98.6%, including 98.9% of males and 98.4% of females.
These figures highlight the broad adoption of digital channels for interacting with government entities.
Electronic government forms ranked as the most widely used service, accounting for 89% of individuals who access government services online.
What Drives Online Shopping in the Kingdom?
E-commerce represents another prominent dimension of Saudi Arabia’s expanding digital activity, with 74.5% of internet users buying goods and services online.
Online purchasing was more widespread among Saudi nationals, reaching 84.9%. Saudi females recorded a rate of 86.8%, compared with 83.1% among Saudi males.
Consumer preferences were concentrated in several product categories. Clothing, footwear, sports goods, and household items topped the list at 85.2%, followed by food, groceries, and tobacco products at 54.4%. Books, magazines, and newspapers accounted for 22.8% of online purchases.
To ensure consistency and comparability, GASTAT produces its statistics using a unified methodology aligned with international organizational procedures and the requirements of the SDGs.
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