Romanians who live in rural areas enjoy internet connections but live in poor conditions, with little to no access to basic household utilities, a recent survey found. Some 60% of Romanians living in rural areas have access to the Internet, similar to the 2007-2008 level in the urban areas. However, only 28% of rural Romanians have toilets inside their homes, according to a recent Romanian Audit Bureau (BRAT) study.

Almost 70% of Romania’s total population aged between 14 and 64 uses the Internet, representing 10.3 million people. Most of them, namely 64%, live in urban areas, while the rest live in rural regions.

Some 7.6 million people aged between 14 and 64 use the Internet on a daily basis, which is half of the population in this age category, according to Arina Ureche, general manager of BRAT.

Almost 70% of rural Romanians use the Internet to check their emails, 77% use it to access social networks, 71% read newspapers/magazines, 59% use it to find different information, 59% watch online videos, 52% buy different products/services, 25% use it for banking services and 37% for dating.

In urban areas, three quarters of Romanians use the Internet for emails, the same amount, for social networks and 67% use it to find different information.

Over 90% of Romanians in rural areas use the computer to connect to the Internet, 18% use a tablet and 59% use their smartphones. In urban areas, 95% of population use the computer, 15% the tablet and 45% their smartphones.

When it comes to access to utilities, 99% of rural Romanians have access to electricity, 62% have Internet connection and 45% have running water supply. On the other hand, only 36% of them have bath or shower inside their homes, 32% have hot water and only 28% have toilets inside the house.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com