The table illustrates the proportion of UK residents across three age brackets (18-29, 30-49, 50-64) who engaged in online shopping over a decade, from 2010 to 2020. Overall, internet shopping usage increased significantly across all age groups, with the youngest demographic consistently showing the highest adoption rates.
In 2010, a considerable gap existed, with 45% of 18-29 year olds shopping online, compared to 30% for the 30-49 group and only 15% for those aged 50-64. By 2015, all groups saw substantial growth; the 18-29 group reached 70%, the 30-49 group climbed to 55%, and the 50-64 group more than doubled their usage to 35%.
The upward trend continued into 2020, with the 18-29 segment leading at 85%, followed by 75% for the 30-49 group, and 50% for the 50-64 group. The most significant rise was seen in the older demographic (50-64), which saw a 35-percentage-point increase over the decade, while the youngest group’s increase was 40 points (from 45% to 85%).
