Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

OLDER PEOPLE

Older people are less likely to use the Internet than any other age group. In 2008-09, just under one third (31%) of all people aged 65 years and over accessed the Internet, almost double the proportion in 2004-05 (17%).

As older people are less likely to be in the work force, this means that they are less likely to have the opportunity to access the internet in a workplace, as many younger people do. In addition, they are also more likely to experience mobility problems that may restrict them from accessing services in person. Therefore the fact that older people are also less likely to use the Internet than younger people can exacerbate any existing disadvantages they might have.

As with younger people, the proportion of older people accessing the Internet has increased in recent years. People who are familiar with technology are now moving into the older age cohorts, while older people may be re-educating themselves to take advantage of new technology so that they can find information on the Internet and keep in touch with family and friends.