Those aged 16 to 24 are the most likely to have accessed the internet on a mobile in Great Britain during 2018, according to the United Kingdom’s (UK) Office for National Statistics. Usage rates for those aged 25 to 34 increased slightly from 2018 to 2019, reaching 97 percent.
Smartphone ownership
95 percent of people aged 16 to 34 years in the UK owned a smartphone as of 2018. While ownership rates decline with age, the share of people over the age of 55 who own a smartphone has increased. 42 percent of people in this age bracket owned a smartphone in 2016, while this figure exceeded 50 percent for the first time in 2018. Globally, it is expected that 40 percent of the population will own a smartphone by 2021.
Apple at the top of the tree
Apple are the leading smartphone manufacture in the UK as of 2018, holding a market share of 51.46 percent. Apple continue to generally increase their share of the market, increasing their stake from 46.01 percent in 2010. Samsung held 28.86 percent of the market in 2018.
Share of individuals who accessed the internet on a mobile phone in Great Britain from 2010 to 2019, by age
internet use on a mobile phone within the last three months
Method of interview
Online survey
Supplementary notes
* The source indicates: "The source of this information is the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OLS). The OLS is a multi-purpose survey developed by ONS for use by government departments, other public bodies, charities, academics and the media. It provides a fast, cost effective and reliable way of obtaining information on topics too brief to warrant their own survey."
** The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey is carried out by interviewing a nationally representative sample of households in Great Britain. About 1,800 households are sampled each month and estimates are subject to sampling variability, as are those from all sample surveys. Data for years prior to 2011 published earlier by the source.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Office for National Statistics (UK). (August 12, 2019). Share of individuals who accessed the internet on a mobile phone in Great Britain from 2010 to 2019, by age [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/320974/internet-usage-on-mobile-phones-gb-age/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Share of individuals who accessed the internet on a mobile phone in Great Britain from 2010 to 2019, by age." Chart. August 12, 2019. Statista. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/320974/internet-usage-on-mobile-phones-gb-age/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2019). Share of individuals who accessed the internet on a mobile phone in Great Britain from 2010 to 2019, by age. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 11, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/320974/internet-usage-on-mobile-phones-gb-age/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Share of Individuals Who Accessed The Internet on a Mobile Phone in Great Britain from 2010 to 2019, by Age." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Aug 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/320974/internet-usage-on-mobile-phones-gb-age/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Share of individuals who accessed the internet on a mobile phone in Great Britain from 2010 to 2019, by age Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/320974/internet-usage-on-mobile-phones-gb-age/ (last visited October 11, 2024)
Share of individuals who accessed the internet on a mobile phone in Great Britain from 2010 to 2019, by age [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), August 12, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/320974/internet-usage-on-mobile-phones-gb-age/