The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 69 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (March 26).

     This publication contains key findings on personal computer (PC) and Internet penetration based on the Thematic Household Survey conducted during April to July 2019.

     The survey results showed that 94.1% of households had access to the Internet at home in 2019, up from 92.3% in 2018.  Among these households, smartphone was the most popular type of device used for Internet connection at home (99.7%), whereas personal computer (PC) came next (82.4%). 

     Usage of the Internet has been on the rise. The percentage of persons aged 10 and over who had used the Internet during the 12 months before enumeration increased to 91.7% in 2019, from 90.5% in 2018. In particular, the increase was substantial among persons aged 65 and over (from 56.3% to 62.2%).

     Continually more people had knowledge of using PC. The percentage of persons aged 10 and over who had knowledge of using PC was 88.3% in 2019, up from 85.1% in 2018. The increase was particularly remarkable among persons aged 65 and over (from 40.8% to 52.2%).

     Findings of the survey also showed that smartphone had become more popular. Some 5.97 million persons aged 10 and over had smartphone in 2019, around 0.16 million more than that in 2018. The smartphone penetration rate rose from 89.8% in 2018 to 91.5% in 2019. The increase was particularly remarkable among the elderly. About 2 in 3 persons aged 65 and over had smartphone in 2019, compared to only around 3 in 5 persons aged 65 and over in 2018.
  
Other information

     The survey successfully enumerated target respondents in some 10 000 households in accordance with a scientific sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.

     Detailed findings of the survey, together with the population coverage and concepts/definitions of key terms, are presented in the publication. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp140.jsp?productCode=B1130201).

     Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be directed to the Social Surveys Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5103 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Thursday, March 26, 2020
Issued at HKT 16:30

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