Internet access and use across the European Union is now widespread, averaging 79% of households in 2013.
In the six years since 2007, that percentage has soared from 55%.
In Portugal, 62% of households have internet and broadband access.
Nearly half of the population in Portugal, 48%, say that they use the internet every day or nearly every day, with 10% saying they go online at least once a week.
Portugal’s 62% rate, while respectable, is still on the low side compared to other nations.
Only Bulgaria, Greece and Romania had fewer households with access to the internet. In a similar position to Portugal are Italy with 69% and Spain with 70%.
And Portugal still has a way to go as a large percentage, 33%, said they had never used the internet. Here very similar percentages were found in Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Poland.
The report also detailed those who used the internet to contact government authorities or services. The majority of contacts were concerned with paying taxes, requesting documents, and claiming benefits.
Of the Portuguese population, 38% said they interacted with public authorities over the internet. Of these nearly 4 million individuals, 69% of them used the internet for tax reporting, but only 16% for claiming benefits.
Portugal has one of the highest rates in the EU for making tax declarations on line in 2013, up there with the likes of Denmark (74%) but well ahead of German (35%), Spain (44%), France (57%) and the UK (18%).
