The "digital daily life" of Saudis is far from simply "online." It represents a comprehensive restructuring of life encompassing family, consumption, and entertainment.
‘As the desert dawn breaks, the fingertips of Saudis are already touching the screen.’
Recently, the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the ‘Saudi Family Statistics Report 2024’ and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) issued the Saudi Internet Report 2024, which show that digital has long been an integral part of everyday life for Saudis.
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71% of saudl ctzens are under 35，household has five members
The Saudi Family Statistics Report 2024, published by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), states that 71 percent of Saudi citizens are below the age of 35. The average age in the Kingdom is 26.6 years, while the median age stands at 23. 5 years. The data highlights the youthful nature of the population, a factor seen as the basis of the digital lifestyle community.
The average Saudi household has five members, with households of six members representing 13.5 percent and those with four or five members accounting for 12.8 percent.
71% of saudl ctzens are under 35，household has five members
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) issued the Saudi Internet Report 2024, showed various indicators and data highlighting the users' behavior and internet usage in the Kingdom during 2024, as it indicated that internet penetration in Saudi Arabia has reached 99%.
It highlighted that approximately 48.6 percent of internet users in Saudi Arabia spend seven hours or more a day using the internet. And the peak hours of Internet usage span is from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and pinpoint Saturday as one of the busiest days of the week.
The internet is mostly used at home with a percentage of 87.9, and the usage during travel comes next to it with 79.3 percent, and then at work with 41.7 percent.
As for the type of devices used, mobile phones topped the list reaching 99.4 percent, followed by computers 50.7percent, and tablets 37.5 percent.Saudi Arabia averaged 48GB of monthly mobile data use per person—three times the global average.
Regarding operating systems, Android accounts for 55 percent of phone usage, compared to 45 percent for iOS. Windows dominates computers at 91.1 percent, compared to 7.5 percent for Macintosh devices and 1.4 percent for Linux.
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E-commerce remains robust and likes watching TikTok
The digital lives of Saudis also deeply permeate consumption and entertainment.
The report studied online shopping behavior, revealing that 74% of people purchase products or services via the internet. Among them:93.1% prioritize local e-commerce platforms；58% use international e-commerce platforms.The most frequently purchased items are clothing, footwear, beauty products, and cosmetics.
The Saudi Arabia E-commerce market was valued at USD 222.9 Billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 708.7 Billion by 2033, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8% from 2025 to 2033.
The report also detailed the most commonly used search websites, social media platforms, and highest-downloaded apps among Saudi netizens. The report shows:The most visited website is YouTube；Google is the most used search engine；Saudis prefer WhatsApp, YouTube, and Snapchat for staying informed about the world；The highest-downloaded apps are TikTok and the digital identity authentication application NAFATH.
Saudi Arabia’s gaming sector is powering ahead, with imports of video game consoles exceeding 2.4 million units across 2024 and 2025.2024, the Kingdom brought in over 1.7 million consoles, with a further 684,489 imported so far this year. China, Japan and the United States emerged as the leading suppliers.
Report underscored significant advancements in digital infrastructure, including an 88% improvement in response time for popular video games.
Echoing the broader expansion of digital life in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom's electronic gaming industry has achieved substantial growth.
When we analyze these data points, it becomes clear that the "digital daily life" of Saudis is far from simply "going online." It represents a comprehensive restructuring of life encompassing family, consumption, and entertainment. With the further improvement of digital infrastructure, the rising purchasing power of the young population, and the maturation of the local digital industry, Saudi Arabia's digital consumer market is poised to release even greater energy.
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https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/media/saudi-gaming-market-consoles
https://fastcompanyme.com/news/saudi-arabia-imports-over-2-4-billion-gaming-consoles-in-two-years-as-industry-booms/
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-more-than-70-of-citizens-are-under-35-says-new-government-report/articleshow/123263348.cms
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/652998
https://www.cst.gov.sa/en/media-center/news/N2025051200
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