KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Internet penetration had, last year, risen to 85.7 per cent from just 70.0 per cent in 2015.
In a statement here today, Chief Statistitian Datuk Seri Dr Uzir Mahidin said, last year, households across Malaysia with computer and mobile phone access rose to 74.1 per cent and 98.1 per cent respectively, compared with 67.6 per cent and 97.9 per cent in 2015.
"Individuals using Internet aged 15 years and above in Malaysia rose by nine percentage points to 80.1 per cent in 2017, from 71.1 per cent in 2015," he said in a statement obtained from Statistics Department's website.
The data shows information technology and communication (ICT) is experiencing rapid growth in Malaysia.
According to the Individual and Household Survey Report on ICT Usage and Access, the percentage of individuals using computers have also increased 1.1 per cent to 69.8 per cent compared to 68.7 per cent in 2015.
He said smartphone usage for internet access also increased to 97.7 per cent compared to 97.5 per cent in 2015.
On mainstream internet activity, among the popular activities are social networking sites with 86.3 per cent and downloading images, movies, videos or music and playing or downloading video games at 81.2 per cent.
In addition to that, obtaining information on goods and services recorded 80.4 per cent while downloading software or applications by 74.5 per cent and sending or receiving emails at 70.4 per cent.
Other activities carried out by internet users are internet banking (37.6 per cent) and purchase or order goods or services (e-commerce) (23.2 per cent).
Mohd Uzir said the percentage of household access to the internet increased by 15.6 per cent to 85.7 per cent compared to 70.1 per cent in 2015.
He said household access to computers also increased 6.5 per cent from 67.6 per cent in 2015 to 74.1 per cent in 2017.
"The percentage of household access for mobile phones also increased by 0.2 per cent to 98.1 per cent in 2017 compared to 97.9 per cent in 2015," he said.