In brief
By November 2026, 99.6% of Saudis aged 15‑74 were online, according to the General Authority for Statistics. The majority connect via mobile phones and engage largely in social networking; e‑government and e‑commerce also enjoy high adoption rates. Specific demographics, usage patterns, and device preferences are detailed in GASTAT’s latest survey.
Riyadh, November 1, 2026 — The General Authority for Statistics (*GASTAT*) announced that internet use among Saudi individuals aged 15‑74 has reached 99.6%, a figure that places the kingdom near universal digital connectivity. In its Survey on Information and Communications Technology Access and Use in Households and by Individuals, GASTAT recorded 99.8% of Saudi males and 99.5% of Saudi females reporting regular internet access, with the 15‑24 cohort achieving a 99.9% penetration rate.
According to the survey, 99.3% of respondents access the internet from home, and 98.0% use it at least once daily. Mobile phones are the dominant device, with 98.4% of users relying on them, while laptops (13.9%) and tablets (12.3%) account for much smaller shares. Social networking tops the list of online activities, with a 99.7% participation rate among both genders, followed by video content consumption (87.8%) and searching for goods and services (65.4%). Audio listening and gaming are used by 55.2% and 19.4% of users, respectively.
The survey also highlighted the high uptake of public sector digital services. E‑government usage stands at 98.4% among all internet users and climbs to 98.6% in the Saudi population. The government services most frequently used include the electronic collection of official forms (89.0% of users) and a suite of other e‑services reported by 98.4% of the population. The gender split for e‑government coverage is nearly symmetrical, with 98.9% of Saudi males and 98.4% of Saudi females actively engaging.
In terms of commercial transactions online, 74.5% of internet users report purchasing goods or services via the web. This figure jumps to 84.9% when considering the broader Saudi demographic, with 86.8% of Saudi females and 83.1% of Saudi males buying online. Clothing, footwear, sports equipment, and household items lead the list of purchased categories at 85.2%, followed by food, groceries, and tobacco products (54.4%) and then books, magazines, and newspapers (22.8%).
Patterns and Methodology
GASTAT explains that the data were gathered using a unified methodology aligned with international standards, helping make the results comparable to other national statistics and supporting Sustainable Development Goals monitoring. The survey was conducted across a representative sample of households, and the single‑internet‑access methodology ensured that individuals with multiple device access points were counted accurately.
These findings confirm that the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure supports widespread participation across social, commercial, and governmental domains. The high penetration rate, particularly among the younger generation, signals a strong foundation for future digital initiatives, though the exact impact of these initiatives on societal and economic outcomes remains to be examined in greater detail.
While GASTAT’s latest figures provide a comprehensive snapshot of internet usage, they leave unanswered questions about how the distribution of services varies across regions, the sustainability of mobile‑phone‑centric connectivity, and the long‑term implications for digital equity within the country. Subsequent analyses will need to address these gaps to fully understand the trajectory of Saudi Arabia’s digital future.
