Smartphone Statistics Australia

There are some smartphone statistics Australia should know. Smartphones are a popular accessory among Australians. After all, they are convenient and can help you to beat boredom. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone in today’s world who does not own a smartphone.

According to 2023 data, approximately nine out of ten Australians (Around 90%) have a smartphone. Aussies spend an average of FIVE Hours each day on their phones. Looks like Aussies spend more time staring at their phones than anything else.

With this growing obsession with mobile phones, there can be some unintended side effects. High levels of smartphone use have been linked with mental and physical problems that many Australians are experiencing.

Are you aware of the impact your mobile phone can have on you? You can gain some insight into the effects of spending too much time on your phone with these facts.

Key Statistics

Have Trouble Sleeping? You’re Not Alone. Read: 16 Sleep Statistics Australians Needs to Know

Key Smartphone Statistics Australia 2020

• About 20.3 million smartphone users live in Australia, which means that 79.60% own a smartphone.
• Australia is the second country in the world to have the highest smartphone penetration rate (79.60%), just behind the US (81.90%).
• 33% of Australian Children aged 6-13 own a cell phone. This is 1 in 3.
• 64% of Australians who use their smartphones before bedtime have poor sleep quality.
• Apple iPhones account for 52.4% of the smartphone market share in Australia (the highest among all the markets where Apple phones are purchased).
• In 2020, there will be 10.53 millions Apple iPhone users.
• The average Aussie spends 2 and a half hours per day on their smartphones.
• In average, mobile users touch their phones 2,617 time every day.
• 8% of Australian drivers use their mobile phones while driving. A quarter also use them when they are stopped in traffic.
• In Australia, 22% of accidents caused by driving while using a mobile phone are due to this.
• Teens who use their electronic devices for five hours or more per day have a suicide risk factor of 71%.
• One in seven Australians suffers from some form of arthritis, which could be exacerbated by the use of smartphones.

New 2024 Data About Our Addiction

• 68% of children aged 3-17 own a smartphone, and use it collectively for nearly a full day per week (21 hours 48 minutes).
• Use of the device is widespread across videography, photography and gaming
• The average age of a child who gets a mobile phone is 12.
• By the age of 17, teens spend more than 26 hours per week on their phones.
• Gen Z averages 7.3 hours per day on their phones
• Gen Xers and Millennials are spending around $6
• Baby boomers lower the national average by 3 hours per day
• A third of Australians sleep with their phones in bed.
• 25% of people check their phones within 10 minutes after waking up.
• 40 percent of people use their phone in the bathroom

Australia’s Mobile Phone Addiction

1. 90% Australians own a smartphone. 10.45% own a cell phone.

• Nine out of ten Australians, or 90.25% own a cell phone.
• In 2017, Australians collectively spent $8.2 billion dollars on smartphones.
• The sales of smartphones have decreased over the years, with 2017 recording the highest sales with 9.20 million mobiles.

Sources: Statista, Telsyte, Delloite

2. In the last five years, over 2 million Australians who were previously without a mobile phone have purchased a smartphone.

• Since 2017, smartphone users have increased by 2 million. This number is expected to rise again by 0.9 millions in the next five years.
• In 2025, there are expected to be 23,40 million Australians who own and use smartphones – that’s 86% of Australia’s population.

Source: Statista

3. Australia is the second country in the world to have the highest smartphone penetration.

• Australia’s mobile phone penetration rate is 79.8% as of 2020. This means there are about 20 million Australian SIM cards and active phone numbers from Smartphone Statistics Australia.
• This penetration rate is the second-highest-ranking, falling behind the US by only 2.1%.

Source: Statista

4. Average Australian adults spend 2.5 hours per day on their smartphones.

• Australian smartphone users spend an average of 2.5 hours per day on their phone, totaling 7.2 years.
• Generation X is the generation that spends most of its time on their mobile phone. Generation X use their phone on average for 6 hours a week, Millenials average 6.7 hours a week, and Generation Z is the top of the list with 7.3 hours a month!

Source: Reviews.org

5. 94% of Australian teens aged 14-17 have a smartphone

• The figure for Australians between the ages of 6 and 13 is slightly higher, with 33% owning a smartphone.
• It’s not surprising that so many Australians are addicted to their mobile phones.

Source: SMH

6. Around 54% of Australians use mobile phones before sleeping.

• Truth about Smartphone Statistics Australia is that one third of Australians admit to sleeping with their phones, and one fourth check their screens within 10 minutes after waking up.
• 75% of Australians sleep with their phones by their beds.

Source: Google Think

7. Around 94% of Australians carry their phones with them when leaving their home

• More Smartphone Statistics Australia about leaving home. It has become alarmingly common for Australians to always carry their phones with them when leaving their homes.
• 40 % of Australians take their phones to the toilet because they are so attached to them!

Sources: Deloitte, New Idea

8. Nearly one quarter of Australians admit to using their phone in the car

• According to a study by the Queensland University’s Smartphone Statistics Australia, using a smartphone while driving can increase the reaction time for hazards in the driver’s peripheral view by up to 50%. This is compared with drunk driving reactions of between 15% and 25%.
• Texting and talking on your mobile phone can increase your crash risk by up to 20%.
• Even a 2-second distraction while driving can double the risk of an accident.

The Physical Effects of Smartphone Use on Australians

9. Our mobile phones are making us more tired and less productive

• According to a 2019 survey, 1 in 5 women (and 1 in 8 men) lose sleep because of their smartphones. This issue is called technoference and mentioned in Smartphone Statistics Australia.
• Approximately 64% of Australians believe that excessive use of mobile phones can negatively impact their sleep.

Sources: Science Daily and SMH

10. The blue light from smartphones can cause eye damage

• The blue light is linked to an increase in macular degeneration, or AMD. This is the leading cause of blindness in Australia. Smartphone Statistics Australia talk about blue light often and we should take note.
• Too much exposure to blue light can also cause headaches, eye strain, and blurred vision.

My Health First

11. Back and neck pains caused by smartphone slouching

• A University of South Australia research study found a direct link between neck and back problems and mobile phone use.
• Text Neck is caused by the constant downward-looking position that we adopt while using mobile phones.

Source: 9 News

12. The prevalence of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases is on the rise

• From the Smartphone Statistics Australia, one in seven Australians suffer from some form of arthritis, which could be exacerbated by the use of smartphones.
• Texting and other repetitive motions can cause stress to joints, muscles, and tendons.
• The use of mobile phones has led to an increase in finger, hand and elbow pain. These are called ‘text claw’ and “cell phone elbow”.

Sources: AIHW, Toi Health

The Mental Effects of Smartphone Use on Australians

13. Nomophobia is spreading in Australia

• Australians check their phones every 30 minutes when awake, or 85 times per day according to Smartphone Statistics Australia. This is alarming.
• Recent research shows that 99.2% users fear being without their phones (nomophobia), and 13.2% classify their level as severe. This can increase the risk of dependency and dangerous use.

The Age Brief

14. Cyberbullying and trolling are on the rise as a result of increased smartphone usage

• Opennect’s research found that teens who use their cell phones a lot are more likely than others to be cyberbullied or become cyberbullies themselves.
• Cyberbullying affects 1 in 5 Australian kids.
• The Australian Federal Government has proposed new legislation to combat cyberbullying. It requires social media platforms, internet service providers and other online platforms, such as online forums, to remove offensive content within 24 hour or face being blocked, and fined up $555,000.

Sources: ZD Net and The Guardian

15. Smartphones can increase mental health issues and FOMO

• One in two Australian teenagers and one in four Aussie adults suffer from FOMO (fear missing out).
• According to a Smartphone Statistics Australia study, 71% of teens that spend more than five hours per day using their electronic devices are at a greater risk for suicide.

Heads Up: NPR sources

16. The phone is a barrier to face-to-face communication and increases anxiety

• Spending more time on the phone can lead to a greater dependence on it for social identity and a sense connectedness according to Smartphone Statistics Australia. This can make users less able to form social bonds face-to-face.
• The over-reliance on mobile phones may be viewed as a safety-seeking behavior that reduces anxiety temporarily, but it can also feed the anxiety.

Sources: Technology Decisions and ABC

The conclusion of the article is:

The statistics from Smartphone Statistics Australia show that smartphones may not be as great as we thought and can have a negative impact on Australian users. You may now think twice about using your smartphone after learning all the responsibilities that come with it.