Transforming Shopping Behaviours: The Rise of Online Shopping and Mobile Payment

The advent of the Internet and the proliferation of various information and communication devices (such as personal computers, smartphones and smartwatches) have profoundly transformed our daily lives. Today, we live in an era of unprecedented convenience. Technological advancements have made many once-distant things within reach, making shopping effortless, seamless and borderless.

From cart to click: a modern way to shop

In recent years, online shopping has become increasingly popular. Can you imagine what online shopping was like just a decade or two ago? Back then, Internet speeds were far slower than they are today, and webpages often took a considerable time to load. Benefiting from the rapid advancement of network technology in Hong Kong, online shopping is now just an easy click away and can be completed instantly. As a result, the number of online shoppers has surged over the past decade. The proportion of people who had engaged in online shopping soared from just under a quarter in 2014 to nearly a half in 2024, more than doubling in just a decade.

Possibly due to difference in proficiency with information technology, the proportion of online shopping usage varies across age groups. Generally, younger people are more adaptable to ever-evolving information technology, and therefore they have a relatively higher rate of online shopping. In particular, over 80% of people aged 25-34 made online shopping in 2024, recording the highest proportion among all age groups. Meanwhile, the elderly (i.e. people aged 65 and over) have also gradually stepped into the world of online shopping. The proportion of elderly who shopped online rose from around 1% only in 2014 to over 10% in 2024, with more experiencing the convenience of “one-click shopping”.

From cash to mobile payment: a convenient way to pay

The popularity of mobile devices, such as smartphones, smartwatches, etc., has helped drive the use of mobile payments in various consumption scenarios. Whether conducting online or in-person transactions, an increasing number of people are using mobile devices to complete payments. In 2024, over 60% of people used mobile payments for online or in-store shopping.

In 2024, the proportion of people aged 25-44 who had used mobile payments reached over 90%, reflecting the use of mobile payments was very common in this age group. On the other hand, although the proportion of the elderly using mobile payments was much lower than the proportions in other age groups, its growth rate was the most significant among all age groups. The proportion rose from less than 2% in 2017 to over 20% in 2024, reflecting that an increasing number of elderly are embracing and mastering mobile payment technology, and enjoying a more convenient lifestyle.

More related statistics: insights into technology uptake

Beyond online shopping and mobile payments, if you want to understand how technology has permeated every corner of our daily lives from more diverse perspectives, please visit the Thematic Household Survey series’ reports on “Information Technology Usage and Penetration” and “Personal Computer and Penetration” to discover more intriguing statistics!

YANG Kit-ling, Kitty
Statistician
28 January 2026