Imagine a world where nearly everyone shops online—sounds futuristic, right? But here’s the shocking truth: in some EU regions, over 90% of people aged 16 to 74 are already doing it. According to 2024 data from Eurostat, 23 EU regions (classified under NUTS 2) saw at least 80% of their population ordering goods or services online in the three months before the survey. And this is the part most people miss: half of these regions were in the Netherlands alone, with all 12 of its regions making the list. Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, and the Czech capital region of Praha rounded out the rest.
The Dutch region of Utrecht led the pack with a staggering 91.5% of its population shopping online, closely followed by its neighbor Flevoland at 89.5%. Ireland’s Northern and Western region wasn’t far behind, boasting 88.3%. But here’s where it gets controversial: while these regions are thriving, others are lagging far behind. In 21 EU regions, less than 40% of the population shops online—most of these are in eastern and southern Europe, including Romania, Bulgaria, and southern Italy. Even France’s outermost regions and Portugal’s autonomous territories struggled to keep up.
Take Bulgaria’s Yugoiztochen region, for example, where only 21.7% of people shop online—the lowest in the EU. Guadeloupe in the Caribbean and Bulgaria’s Severozapaden region weren’t much better, with rates below 25%. Is this a digital divide or a matter of preference? Some argue it’s about infrastructure, while others blame cultural habits. What do you think?
If you’re curious to dive deeper into the digital society at the regional level, Eurostat’s 2025 Regional Yearbook is a treasure trove of insights. You can also explore interactive publications like Regions in Europe and the Statistical Atlas for a closer look. But here’s the real question: as online shopping becomes the norm, how can we ensure no region gets left behind? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation!
