Komi Republic's internet boom transforms daily life and work
Internet Usage Surges in Komi, Reaching 87% of Population in 2024
New data from Komistat, based on a comprehensive survey of living standards in 2024, reveals a sharp rise in internet adoption across the Komi Republic.
While 77% of the region's residents were online in 2020, that figure has now climbed to 87%—just four years later. The survey found near-universal internet use among young people under 25 (100%), as well as high engagement among those aged 25 to 65 (96%). Meanwhile, residents over 65 showed little interest in going online.
For most people in Komi, the internet remains primarily a tool for communication: 72% use social media, with 59% doing so daily. Other top activities include reading news and articles, as well as managing financial transactions. E-commerce has also seen significant growth—46% of the republic's residents bought or sold goods and services online in 2024. Additionally, one in five earned money through remote work, a quarter (25%) accessed digital libraries, and 9% pursued distance learning.
The data highlights a persistent urban-rural divide: 89% of city dwellers use the internet, compared to 82% in rural areas. Urban residents are also more likely to shop online (53% vs. 21% in villages), download multimedia (44% vs. 26%), and apply for official documents via government websites (33% vs. 17%). Rural users, however, are more engaged in online discussions on social and political issues, petitions, and surveys (21% vs. 12% among urban residents) and more frequently use the internet for distance education (10% vs. 8%).
Gender differences are also notable: 89% of men in Komi are online, compared to 86% of women. Men are more likely to download games and films, play online games (50%), read news (70%), and join discussions (16%). Women, on the other hand, dominate social media (74%), make more online purchases (48%), and are slightly more active in distance learning (10%).
