Cyprus online shoppers among least likely in EU to face problems

Cyprus has recorded one of the lowest rates of online shopping problems in the European Union, with around 15.68 per cent of consumers reporting issues when buying through websites or apps, according to Eurostat.

The findings come from the 2025 survey on the use of information and communication technologies, which examined the experiences of people who had made online purchases during the previous three months.

Across the EU, more than a third of online shoppers reported difficulties, with 35.4 per cent saying they encountered problems while making purchases online.

The figures show that Cyprus performed significantly better than the EU average, suggesting relatively smoother online purchasing experiences for consumers compared with many other member states.

According to the data, Greece recorded one of the lowest shares of reported problems in the EU, with 10.6 per cent of online shoppers saying they experienced issues.

Cyprus followed with 15.68 per cent, placing it among the countries with comparatively fewer reported complications during online purchases.

Outside the EU, Turkey recorded a higher rate of reported problems, with 28.9 per cent of shoppers saying they had encountered issues.

By contrast, several European countries reported much higher levels of dissatisfaction among online consumers.

The highest shares of customers encountering problems were recorded in Malta, where 64.0 per cent of online shoppers said they faced issues.

This was followed by the Netherlands, where 57.9 per cent of consumers reported problems, and Luxembourg, where the figure reached 51.4 per cent.

Among the wider European countries included in the dataset, Norway recorded the highest overall level of reported issues, with 67.06 per cent of online shoppers encountering problems during digital purchases.

At the opposite end of the scale, Portugal recorded the lowest share of complaints, with only 4.45 per cent of online shoppers reporting problems.

The survey also examined the types of difficulties consumers most frequently face when shopping online.

The most common issue across the EU was slower delivery than expected, which affected 19.9 per cent of customers.

The second most frequently reported problem involved websites that were difficult to use or functioned poorly, experienced by 11.5 per cent of online shoppers.

Another common difficulty concerned incorrect or damaged goods or services being delivered, which was reported by 10.4 per cent of customers.

The figures, which took into account user feedback from 2021 onwards, highlight how logistical challenges and digital usability issues remain persistent concerns for consumers making online purchases.

Despite these challenges across the EU, the relatively low share of reported problems in Cyprus indicates that online shoppers on the island encounter fewer difficulties compared with many other European markets.

The results also underline the growing importance of reliable delivery services and user-friendly online platforms, as e-commerce continues to expand across Europe.