Macau’s internet usage rate surpasses global average

According to a Macao Association for Internet Research survey, Macau’s internet penetration rate has remained at 93% for residents aged six to 84, significantly higher than the global average of 68%.

The association conducted the survey between March and April this year using random phone sampling, gathering results from interviews with 1,213 Macau residents.

The survey findings indicate a strong correlation between educational attainment and digital access capabilities. Among respondents, the internet usage rate for highly educated individuals, i.e., those holding college degrees or higher, reached 100%. In comparison, those with an elementary school education or lower had a usage rate of 69%.

When broken down by age group, the internet usage rate among middle-aged and older adults aged 41–60 significantly increased from 11–20% in 2001 to 95–99%, while the rate for those aged 60 and above rose from 3% to 69%, highlighting the internet’s aging-friendly development.

According to the findings, mobile internet is deeply integrated into residents’ daily lives. The mobile internet usage rate is 91%, closely aligning with the overall internet usage rate of 93%.

As smartphones have become the primary device for internet access among users, the usage rate of desktop computers has gradually declined. Concurrently, the adoption of smartwatches and televisions as internet access devices is rising; they currently account for 21% and 40% of the total, respectively.

Social media usage at 91%

The same survey revealed that the overall social media usage rate is 91%, with the top three most popular platforms being, respectively, WeChat (88%), YouTube (74%), and WhatsApp (62%).

“The internet has become the primary means for users to access information, engage in social interaction, consume entertainment, and work or study. Notably, 87% of netizens use the internet mainly for leisure and entertainment, followed by accessing information at 32% and communicating with others at 28%, highlighting the leisure-oriented nature of online activity,” the findings noted.

Functional needs such as education, shopping, and financial management remain important uses of the Internet, with 72% of respondents indicating they habitually shop online.

Notably, 61% of netizens rated the current state of online privacy in Macau as safe, maintaining a stable rate of around 60% in recent years. Among these, the elderly express greater concern about online risks, with 38% of netizens reporting experiences with online privacy or security issues. These issues include device infection by malware, account or password theft, online fraud, and infringement of personal privacy.

For e-government platforms, the findings show that the usage rate of e-government services among adult internet users has significantly increased from 43% in 2017 to 81% this year, with a satisfaction rating of 7.3 out of 10.