For most people, using the internet is an essential part of daily life, but not for the estimated 4% of Germans who have not once gone online.
In the internet age, simple tasks like booking a plane ticket or hotel room, even buying groceries, are done online. And many important services are exclusively available online.
Nevertheless, 2.8 million people between the ages of 16 and 74 in Germany have never used the internet as of 2024, according to numbers recently released by the German Federal Statistical Office, which refers to the group as “offliners.”
The age group between 65 and 74 years old comprises the largest cohort in the statistics, and the younger you go, the fewer “offliners” there are.
The figures are taken from an annual survey on the use of information and communication technologies based on data collected throughout the EU.
Germany just about average on internet use in Europe
The statistics show that Germany’s 4% is just below the EU average of 5%.
The Netherlands and Sweden had the highest number of internet users, with offliners coming in at less than 1% of the population.
Croatia and Greece had the highest number of citizens who have never used the internet, with 14% and 11% respectively.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/nearly-3-million-germans-have-never-used-the-internet/a-72196617