Mexico Advances Digital Integration as Users Hit 110 Million

Mexico’s technological landscape is defined by near-universal mobile connectivity, a sharp increase in fixed-line internet speeds, and a social media ecosystem that has surpassed key adoption milestones, according to the latest DataReportal analysis for 2026. As of late 2025, Mexico’s internet user base reached 110 million people, representing an 83.5% penetration rate of the total population. This digital expansion is unfolding alongside a population that reached 132 million in October 2025, growing at an annual rate of 0.8%.

The core drivers of Mexico’s digital economy are closely linked to its youthful demographic profile and high level of urbanization. Mexico’s median age stands at 29.6 years, underscoring a population in its peak years for digital consumption and workforce participation.

United Nations data show that 82.2% of the population resides in urban areas, while 17.8% lives in rural communities. This concentration supports more efficient infrastructure deployment and helps explain the 1.1 million net new internet users added between 2024 and 2025.

Age distribution remains relatively balanced, with 15.9% of the population in the 25–34 age bracket, the largest single cohort. In aggregate, adults aged 18 to 54 account for more than 53% of the population, forming a large, digitally literate consumer base for financial services, e-commerce and media platforms.

Mobile Connectivity and the eSIM Shift

Mobile connectivity remains the backbone of Mexico’s digital ecosystem. GSMA Intelligence reported 145 million cellular mobile connections by the end of 2025, equivalent to 110% of the total population, reflecting widespread multi-SIM usage for personal and professional purposes.

Connectivity quality is also improving. Approximately 98.5% of mobile connections now qualify as “broadband,” including 3G, 4G and 5G networks. While broadband connections do not perfectly equate to active internet usage—given that some plans are limited to voice or SMS—the figure highlights a network increasingly capable of supporting data-intensive services.

The rapid adoption of eSIM technology has further simplified the management of multiple mobile profiles, enabling easier switching between providers and contributing to the elevated connection-to-population ratio.

Social Media at Scale

Social media remains the dominant online activity for Mexican users and continues to shape consumer behavior across sectors. By October 2025, Mexico had 99.0 million active social media user identities, equivalent to 74.9% of the total population and 89.7% of all internet users.

Adoption among adults is even more pronounced. Platform data indicate that social media user identities aged 18 and older reached 99.0 million by year-end, representing 105.7% of the adult population. While figures above 100% reflect duplicate accounts and business profiles, they underscore the near-ubiquity of social platforms in daily life.

The gender distribution among social media users is relatively balanced, with 46.1% identified as female and 53.9% as male.

E-commerce: From Event-Driven to Habitual

Digital commerce in Mexico has evolved from a complementary channel into a core pillar of retail activity. Annual online consumer spending now exceeds US$35.1 billion, positioning Mexico as one of Latin America’s largest e-commerce markets. The number of digital buyers reached 100 million in late 2025, marking an 8.8% year-on-year increase.

Consumer behavior is normalizing, with 59.5% of users aged 16 and older making online purchases at least once a week. This shift has reshaped the leading e-commerce categories:

• Grocery: US$8.95 billion

• Fashion and Footwear: US$7.73 billion

• Electronics: US$7.52 billion

• Home and Beauty: US$4.00 billion combined
   

The ecosystem is decisively mobile-first, with 39.7% of all online sales completed via smartphones. Looking ahead to 2026, industry analysts point to logistics efficiency—particularly last-mile delivery—and financial flexibility as the key competitive differentiators.

Platform-Specific Insights

Marketers and economists closely monitor platform-level data to assess reach and consumer engagement in the Mexican market.

Facebook and Messenger: Meta’s Facebook remains a dominant platform with 93.5 million users, equivalent to 70.7% of the population. Messenger reached 54.6 million users, or 41.3% of the population.

TikTok: The short-form video platform has recorded rapid expansion, reaching 99.0 million users aged 18 and older. TikTok’s advertising reach grew 22.0% between 2024 and 2025, the fastest rate among major platforms.

YouTube: Google’s video platform maintains an advertising reach of 85.0 million users, representing 77.0% of Mexico’s internet audience.

Instagram: Instagram continued its upward trajectory, reporting 53.6 million users in late 2025. Its ad reach increased 13.7% year over year.

Emerging Platforms: Newer services such as Threads are beginning to gain traction, with 7.4 million users reported. Professional networking remains stable, with LinkedIn reporting 29.0 million registered members.

Economic Implications of the Digital Shift

The data indicate that Mexico is moving beyond the initial adoption phase of digital transformation and into a phase of deep integration. While the digital divide is narrowing, 21.9 million people remain offline, accounting for roughly 16.5% of the population.

For the financial sector, these trends point to fertile ground for fintech innovation. High mobile penetration, combined with extensive social media reach, provides a scalable foundation for mobile banking, digital payments and micro-investment platforms.

Additionally, the 182% increase in Reddit’s advertising reach suggests the emergence of more specialized, community-driven digital spaces. These platforms may increasingly serve as hubs for niche discussions, including personal finance, investing and economic analysis, further diversifying Mexico’s digital information ecosystem.