From searching for information to artificial intelligence: what Lithuanians did online in 2025

The latest Eurostat data shows that in 2025 Lithuanians used the internet most actively for searching for information, reading the news and communicating with other people. Somewhat less often, but still very widely, the internet was used for financial services and online shopping, and least of all — for learning and civic participation. A growing interest in artificial intelligence tools is also noticeable, as they are increasingly used for everyday tasks and work.

Last year 79 percent of Lithuanians used the internet to read the news and obtain information. For comparison, the European Union (EU) average in this area reaches 66 percent. Just one percentage point fewer — 78 percent of Lithuanians — used the internet for communication via video calls, and 77% — for communication through apps such as Messenger or WhatsApp.

In 2025, 68% of Lithuanians used the internet to buy goods. Although this indicator still lags slightly behind the EU average (74%), Lithuania clearly outpaces a number of Southern and Eastern European states and falls into the middle-to-upper group of EU countries by e-commerce activity. Meanwhile, according to Eurostat data, last year only 30% of Lithuanians used the internet for learning purposes.

As internet technology expert Artur Stefanovič, CEO of Etanetas, one of the first internet provision companies in Lithuania, notes, the latest data shows that Lithuania has already confidently passed the stage where the main challenge was internet availability itself.

According to Eurostat data, last year the internet was available in as many as 90% of households in Lithuania. This very clearly shows the trends in people's choices. The internet is most often used where a clear everyday benefit is seen — for searching for information, communicating or financial matters. Meanwhile, learning or civic participation online still remain niche activities," says A. Stefanovič.

According to the expert, it is important to note that the 2025 Eurostat data showed for the first time that the main reason why some people do not use the internet is not a lack of technology but a lack of perceived need. For example, 6% of Lithuanians said they do not use the internet because they see no need for it.

In other words, the problem more often lies not in connection quality but in understanding how digital solutions can be useful in everyday life.

According to A. Stefanovič, the understanding of why digital tools are needed is especially apparent when speaking about artificial intelligence. Although the latest 2025 Eurostat data shows rapidly growing use of artificial intelligence tools across the entire European Union, a large part of the population still says they do not use them because they see no practical benefit or do not have enough knowledge of how these tools could ease work or household tasks.

For example, according to Eurostat data, slightly more than 35% of Lithuanians aged 16–74 used artificial intelligence to create images, videos and other information at least once last year — this exceeds the EU average by a few percentage points. On the other hand, 39% of Lithuanians said they did not use artificial intelligence because they saw no need for it.

According to the Etanetas CEO, it is precisely here that a new stage of digital transformation opens up.

"If earlier we spoke about faster internet or a wider network, now we increasingly speak about content and services. Artificial intelligence can become the turning point that encourages people to use the internet not only for reading or communicating but also for learning, optimising work processes or creativity. The most important thing is that people see the benefit in it — that they receive enough information about what artificial intelligence is and how it can ease everyday life," he says.

According to the expert, looking to the future, Lithuania has good prerequisites not to fall behind the EU leaders in the use of artificial intelligence among the population. Fast internet that has remained at a high level for years and intensive daily internet use create the conditions for more advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to become in the coming years no longer an exception but an everyday tool for an ever wider part of society.