Europe’s Connected Future: How the Internet of Things Shapes Daily Life

From smart thermostats that adjust to your habits to watches that track your sleep, the Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer a futuristic concept. For millions of Europeans, it has quietly become part of everyday life. Yet while usage is growing fast, the latest Eurostat data reveals striking differences between countries, generations, and even attitudes toward connected technology.

In 2024, 70% of EU citizens aged 16 to 74 reported using at least one IoT device. That makes connected technologies one of the fastest-growing areas of digital adoption in Europe. But the averages mask sharp contrasts: in the Netherlands, 95% of people use IoT devices, while in Poland, only 46% do. Similar gaps exist outside the EU, with Norway (93%) far ahead of countries like Türkiye (46%).

This uneven distribution highlights a fundamental challenge for policymakers: digital infrastructure and enthusiasm for new tech remain uneven across the continent.

Entertainment Still Leads the Way

The most popular IoT device by far is the internet-connected TV, reported by 58% of Europeans in 2024. That figure underscores the role of entertainment as a gateway to connected living.

Other categories are growing too:

• 30% use smart wearables such as watches or fitness bands
• 20% use connected game consoles
• 19% use smart speakers or home audio systems
• 14% rely on IoT for energy management
• 13% use smart appliances
• 12% manage home security via IoT

Health devices (8%) and connected toys (2%) remain niche markets, suggesting that while IoT is embedded in leisure and comfort, areas like healthcare and childcare adoption still lag.

Generational Gaps Define Usage of connected technologies

Age remains one of the strongest predictors of IoT adoption.

• Among 16–24-year-olds, 84% use IoT devices, often driven by entertainment and wearables.
• By contrast, only 45% of those aged 65–74 engage with IoT at all.

The youngest group leads across entertainment-related categories: 67% use smart TVs, 40% wearables, and 40% gaming consoles. Meanwhile, the 35–44 age group shows the highest uptake in home-related IoT, including 19% for energy systems, 19% for appliances, and 16% for home security.

These patterns suggest that while young Europeans experiment with connected gadgets, older cohorts adopt IoT primarily when it serves household or family needs.

Technology adaption: Why Some Europeans Still Say No

Despite rapid uptake, many Europeans consciously avoid IoT devices. Eurostat found that in 2024, 41% of non-users said they simply did not need them.

Other barriers included:

• Cost (9%)
• Privacy concerns (8%)
• Security fears (7%)
• Lack of skills (6%)

Interestingly, privacy and security worries—often highlighted in tech debates—were far less decisive than the perceived lack of usefulness. In other words, for many Europeans, IoT is still a solution in search of a problem.

Beyond Gadgets: Europe’s Digital Agenda

The EU’s 2024–2029 digital agenda emphasizes boosting competitiveness and digital sovereignty, including stronger digital literacy, secure infrastructures, and investment in frontier technologies like AI and semiconductors. IoT adoption plays into all of these priorities, but its uneven uptake reveals where gaps remain.

The next frontier is not only connecting more devices but also ensuring they deliver clear, tangible value. For IoT to truly become universal, it must move beyond novelty and convenience toward trusted, essential services that resonate across all generations and income groups.

Source: ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Use_of_Internet_of_Things_by_individuals