Daniel Slotta
Research expert covering Greater China
Internet usage in Indonesia - statistics & facts
With more than 185 million internet users, Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest number of internet users in the world. As of January 2024, the country ranked fifth after China, India, the United States, and Brazil. Improved internet infrastructure has been a key driver of the country’s growing internet population. However, due to blocked content and various restrictions on media, Indonesia was only ranked partially free, with 49 index points, in the Freedom House Index 2024, which ranked countries according to their degree of internet freedom. Nevertheless, the internet has revolutionized the everyday lives of most Indonesians and has been well incorporated into their daily activities.
In addition to the prominence of mobile internet, the fixed broadband subscription in Indonesia has been on an upward trend in recent years. This has resulted in the growth of broadband penetration rates among households in the country. By 2028, the share of fast fixed-broadband subscriptions in Indonesia is projected to reach almost 60 percent.
Indonesia’s expanding internet access has transformed daily activities, boosting connectivity, and economic growth. As demand for digital services rises, Indonesia’s digital landscape is poised for further expansion and innovation.
Internet accessibility
The majority of the Indonesian population accessed the internet regularly from their mobile phones, making the country one of the largest mobile-first nations in Asia. With growing mobile internet penetration in the country, there has been an increase in demand for affordable data prices, greater coverage, and improved quality of service. The Indonesian internet providers have thus put forward attractive data pricing plans as well as improved data-oriented mobile services as part of their strategy to attract more customers.In addition to the prominence of mobile internet, the fixed broadband subscription in Indonesia has been on an upward trend in recent years. This has resulted in the growth of broadband penetration rates among households in the country. By 2028, the share of fast fixed-broadband subscriptions in Indonesia is projected to reach almost 60 percent.
Most common online activities
The internet has become an important part of the day-to-day life of most Indonesians. Specifically, it has become an essential tool for information, communication, business activities, and entertainment. As of the third quarter of 2023, the average daily time spent using the internet in Indonesia was around seven hours and 38 minutes; a large fraction of it was spent on social media and streaming. The internet has also transformed the way products are distributed to Indonesian consumers. Over the past decade, e-commerce has grown in popularity, with the number of e-commerce users expected surpass 99 million by 2029. In addition, the annual gross merchandise volume (GMV) of the e-commerce market in Indonesia is set to reach 150 billion U.S. dollars by 2030, more than double compared to the figure in 2022.Indonesia’s expanding internet access has transformed daily activities, boosting connectivity, and economic growth. As demand for digital services rises, Indonesia’s digital landscape is poised for further expansion and innovation.
