Saudi Arabia is going all-in on the internet as internet usage is as high as 99% – report

Internet usage in Saudi Arabia has reached near-universal levels, with more than 99 percent of citizens and residents now online, according to the latest national survey released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

A 2025 study on the availability and use of information and communication technology among households and individuals found that 99.3 percent of Saudi citizens and 98.6 percent of non-Saudi citizens use the Internet.

In total, 99 percent of people between the ages of 15 and 74 in the Kingdom are connected, highlighting the extent of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation.

Internet use is consistent across genders, with use at 99 percent among men and 98.9 percent among women. Among Saudi nationals, 99.5 percent of men and 99.2 percent of women reported using the Internet, indicating a narrow digital divide.

Communication at home is almost like everywhere else. The survey revealed that 98.7 percent of people access the Internet at home, and 48.7 percent use it while traveling or traveling. Frequency of use is also high, with 96.8 percent of users accessing the Internet at least once a day. Another 2.4 percent access the Internet weekly but not daily, while only 0.8 percent use it monthly.

Mobile phones reign as the primary access tool, used by 98.4 percent of internet users. Tablets were used by 9.9 percent, laptops by 8.6 percent and other portable devices by 1.3 percent, showing the State’s best digital behavior.

Social, shopping, and services are becoming digital

Online activities are led by social interaction and entertainment. Social networking sites were used by 96.2 percent of Internet users, followed by searching for information on goods and services by 57.2 percent. About 79.4 percent of users watch online video content, while 32 percent listen to audio content and 11.5 percent play games online.

The study also highlighted the widespread adoption of digital government services. About 98.2 percent of people reported having access to government services online. This includes 98.2 percent of Saudis, which is slightly higher among men at 98.6 percent compared to 97.9 percent among women. The most frequently used e-government service was access to government websites, used by 92.7 percent of Internet users.

IE-commerce continues to gain momentum, with 71 percent of people buying goods and services online. Saudis accounted for 80.2 percent of Internet consumers, with the highest participation among women at 82.8 percent compared to 77.6 percent among men. Clothing, shoes and sports were the most purchased items, representing 88.8 percent of online purchases, followed by cosmetics at 40.2 percent.

The findings underscore Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the region’s most digitally connected societies, with widespread internet access supporting daily life, online commerce and digital government services.