26 Thought-Provoking UK Online Shopping Statistics

This means that one in three people of the total world population shops online. The number of online shoppers in 2023 increased by 3.1% compared to the previous year, translating to 80 million more online shoppers.

Furthermore, projections show this number will reach 2.71 billion in 2024 and up to 2.77 billion in 2025.

Global online shopping statistics predict that 21.2% of all retail sales will happen online in 2024. Moreover, current reports project a total market worth of £45.1 trillion in 2032 at an annual growth rate of 15% over ten years.

According to mobile online shopping statistics, smartphones dominated global online purchases in 2023, in contrast to desktops and tablets.

The skyrocketing growth of mobile phone usage has boosted e-commerce in Asia, where roughly two-thirds of all online sales were conducted via mobile devices.

Following right behind is Brazil at 14.07%, Argentina at 13.63%, and Turkey at 13.57%. Considering the average global CAGR was estimated at 11.16%, online shopping statistics predict France, the UK, and South Korea will be the slowest-growing economies with a CAGR of less than 8%.

Although the US giant dominates the market, significantly exceeding the mean market cap of £207.3 billion, other significant contenders are China’s Alibaba at £168.4 billion and Prosus from the Netherlands at £79.7 billion.

The UK is expected to have almost 60 million online shoppers by 2027. The country has one of the largest online shopping markets, generating £97 billion in revenue in 2022.

Considering the dramatic increase in online shopping, statistics reveal that eBay is the second key player in the UK e-commerce landscape at 214.9 million monthly visits.

The remaining major online retailers in the UK are Etsy at 44.1 million, Argos at 43 million and Tripadvisor at 36/7 million visits per month.

According to the latest online shopping statistics, 32% of these payments are made by debit card. Conversely, 18% of shoppers use credit cards and 6% deferred debit/charge cards.

The downside of this payment method are numerous data breaches, as 95% of major corporations report experiencing more than one breach.

Online shopping statistics by country report that UK digital buyers greatly prioritise convenient delivery and returns. The main reason they abandon their shopping carts is the unavailability of their preferred delivery provider.

Next in line are food & beverages at 71%, followed by shoes at 70%. Also ranking high are entertainment media at 59% and electronics at 58%. Less than 40% were interested in buying furniture and DIY products online.

Online shopping statistics during COVID-19 report a 43% surge in social shopping boosted by the pandemic. Facebook is the second most popular social shopping platform at 39%, followed by YouTube at 22% and TikTok at 20%.

Temu was the most downloaded app, generating over 100 million downloads on Google Play. Other popular online shopping apps were M&S Fashion, Food & Homeware, Tesco, SHEIN, Shop and Vinted.

Looking at 2022 online shopping statistics in the UK, John Lewis was a clear-cut winner, amassing a revenue of over £1,320.3 million in net sales. Second-best was Shop Direct Home (£1,149.7 million), with the next in line being ASDA (£1,123 million) and Next (£1,096.3 million).

To restate, four in five UK consumers shop online. Online shopping maintains a steady upward trend, and experts estimate the penetration rate of UK online shoppers will reach 93% by 2028.

The shift to online shopping gave rise to the emergence of online banks. If you’re interested in finding the best online bank in the UK, check out our top recommendations!

Male vs female online shopping statistics reveal that 84.3% of men shop online, compared to 77% of women. Additionally, men tend to make rational purchases focusing on one product. In contrast, women are prone to impulse shopping and buying several items simultaneously.

Online shopping statistics for 2022 reveal that desktop users were more likely to complete a purchase than mobile users, who exhibited a conversion rate of 2.52%.

In turn, the most frequent mobile purchases were flight and hotel bookings, whereas other trending categories were clothes and accessories.

A recent survey established that AR & VR appeal to younger generations. Gen Z online shopping statistics confirm that 18% of the respondents from this cohort are enthusiastic about experiencing AR & VR while shopping online.

Gen X are significantly less inclined towards AR & VR during online shopping, as only 9% expressed interest in this experience. The least interested are Baby Boomers at 6%.

Online shopping statistics in the UK report that technology and fashion are the main product categories where consumers look for high-end items. These mainly include smartphones, clothes and footwear, and household electronics.

Less than 20% insist on premium cosmetic products and domestic appliances. In turn, 10% or less report buying sports equipment, DIY, and pet products from luxury brands.

The same is true for 27% of men. Female online shopping statistics also show that 19% of women prefer shopping for groceries, furniture, cosmetics, and other products online, while only 13% of men have reported this preference.

As per a 2023 survey, clothing is the top most-returned product category. Furthermore, 17% of the respondents said they returned shoes, 14% returned accessories, and 10% returned electronic devices. Meanwhile, 46% were content with the items they received.

Gen Z online shopping statistics show that a little over 53% of this cohort enjoys the convenience of shopping 24/7. In addition, round-the-clock shopping appeals to more than 67% of Gen X and old consumers.

Meanwhile, over 51% of Millennials choose online shopping due to the ease of finding products. An equal percentage appreciates the possibility of comparing prices across various websites.

A study from 2022 revealed that 47% of all surveyed consumers prefer shopping in-store. Only 21% chose a mobile device as their preferred shopping channel, and a mere 15% opted for computers and laptops.

Additionally, Generation Z online shopping statistics report that precisely half of Gen Z consumers said they preferred shopping in-store to avoid the delay of waiting for their delivery.

Conversely, 28% of the same cohort resolved to shift their shopping habits towards brick-and-mortar shops in 2023.

In-store vs online shopping statistics show that around 20% chiefly or exclusively do their grocery shopping online.

For a more detailed breakdown, 16.9% mainly buy groceries online and partly in-store, and a little over 40% still prefer going to the store with occasional online purchases. Another 2.3% shop for groceries exclusively online.

According to the latest Office for National Statistics data, online shopping statistics indicate that internet sales comprise 26.3% of the total retail sales as of October 2023. This is a 3.6% decline compared to November 2022, when the previous sales peak of 29.9% was recorded.

In addition, 91% of UK online buyers place great importance on free shipping, and 17% would like the product to be delivered on the same day it was purchased. However, 22% say they need to physically inspect a product before buying it.