Online calls and messaging have emerged as the most popular internet activities in Cyprus, with social media participation and news reading following close behind, according to a Statistical Service survey on household information and communication technology use for 2025.
Nine in ten people use the internet at least once weekly, the survey found. Internet use drops sharply with age, from 98.5% amongst 16-24 year olds to 81.5% for those aged 55-74. People with higher education levels use the internet far more frequently (98.9%) than those with lower education (75.9%).
Calls and messaging lead activities
Making calls via the internet topped online activities in the first quarter of 2025 at 96.4%, closely followed by exchanging messages through Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp and Viber at 96.2%. Participation in social networks such as Facebook and X reached 92.3%, whilst reading online news hit 91.1%. Searching for product or service information stood at 88.2%.
Educational activities gained traction, with 20.5% of internet users accessing online educational material in the first quarter of 2025. A further 17.8% took online lessons, with an identical proportion communicating with educators or students using online audio or video tools.
E-government services
Between April 2024 and March 2025, 62.7% of people aged 16-74 received information from government services electronically. Just over half (52%) accessed information stored about them by public authorities or services, whilst 31.9% tapped into public databases or registers.
Online shopping dips slightly
The proportion of people making online purchases in the first quarter of 2025 fell slightly to 62% from 63.6% in the same period last year.
Streaming services dominated online subscriptions, with film, series or sports programme streaming leading at 43.5%. Music streaming services reached 18.3%, game streaming hit 9.5%, and health or fitness applications stood at 7.5%.
Amongst those aged 16-74 who ordered or bought products or services online in the first quarter of 2025, event tickets proved most popular at 58.6%, followed by accommodation services at 53.2% and transport services at 50.3%.
(information from CNA)