7.1 million people have never used the Internet

Whether for shopping, banking or catching up with news, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data show that just 33% of over-75s have ever browsed the internet.

The figures show that 7.1 million adults in the UK have never been online - 45% of whom are over the age of 75.

In contrast, almost all 16 to 24-year-olds have connected to the internet.

Men are more likely to be technologically enabled than women, with 88% of men and 84% of women ever going online.

The ONS quarterly report on internet access states: “Internet use is linked to various socio-economic and demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, disability, geographical location and weekly earnings.

“For example, those who are less likely to have used the internet include both the elderly and disabled adults.”

The figures show that since 2011, the number of internet users has increased by 2.9 million and now stands at 43.6 million adults.