Band 8+: The chart below shows the percentage of households in different income groups that had internet access in a European country between 2005 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The bar chart illustrates the proportion of households with internet access in a European country, categorized by income group—low, middle, and high—across the years 2000, 2010, and 2020.

Overall, internet penetration increased significantly in all three income groups over the two decades. However, the high-income group consistently had the greatest access to the internet, while the low-income group remained the least connected throughout the period.

In 2000, just 5% of low-income households had internet access, compared to 20% in the middle-income group and 40% in the high-income category. A decade later, usage rose markedly across all groups, with high-income households reaching 80%, middle-income at 60%, and low-income still lagging behind at 15%.

By 2020, internet access had become nearly universal among high-income households, with 98% connected. The middle-income group also saw a substantial rise, climbing to 85%. In contrast, although low-income households experienced progress, their access was still limited at 35%, highlighting a persistent digital divide.