Canadian e-Commerce Statistics

The Internet has fundamentaly reshaped the way businesses and consumers communicate, interact and transact in Canada and around the world. Canada is well-positioned to be a leader in the New Economy, given its sophisticated infrastructure, its highly connected population and its early Electronic Commerce policy initiatives.

Updated: November 2006

Value of Canadian e-commerce sales, (Private Firms) 2005

E-commerce sales in Canada, 2005, by selected sectors

E-business adoption rates in Canada, 2005, by size of firm

Canadian private businesses using the Internet (%), 2000-2005

• 2005 Canadian Business Internet Usage -- 81.6%
• 2004 Canadian Business Internet Usage -- 81.6%
• 2003 Canadian Business Internet Usage -- 78.2%
• 2002 Canadian Business Internet Usage -- 75.7%
• 2001 Canadian Business Internet Usage -- 70.8%
• 2000 Canadian Business Internet Usage -- 63.4%

Canadian private businesses that have a website (%), 2000-2005

• 2005 Businesses that have a website -- 38.3%
• 2004 Businesses that have a website -- 36.8%
• 2003 Businesses that have a website -- 34.0%
• 2002 Businesses that have a website -- 31.5%
• 2001 Businesses that have a website -- 28.6%
• 2000 Businesses that have a website -- 25.7%

Canadian private businesses using the Internet to purchase goods/services (%), 2000-2004

• 2005 Businesses making online purchases -- 43.4%
• 2004 Businesses making online purchases -- 42.5%
• 2003 Businesses making online purchases -- 37.3%
• 2002 Businesses making online purchases -- 31.9%
• 2001 Businesses making online purchases -- 22.4%
• 2000 Businesses making online purchases -- 18.2%

Canadian private businesses using the Internet to sell goods/services (%), 2000-2004

• 2005 Businesses selling goods/services online -- 7.0%
• 2004 Businesses selling goods/services online -- 7.0%
• 2003 Businesses selling goods/services online -- 7.1%
• 2002 Businesses selling goods/services online -- 7.5%
• 2001 Businesses selling goods/services online -- 6.7%
• 2000 Businesses selling goods/services online -- 6.4%

Canadian Consumer e-commerce spending, 2005 (CIUS)

• 2005 (Consumer Internet Spending) -- $7.9 billion CDN

Canadian household e-commerce spending, 1999-2004 (HIUS)

• 2004 (Household Internet Spending) -- n/a
• 2003 (Household Internet Spending) -- $3.0 billion CDN
• 2002 (Household Internet Spending) -- $2.4 billion CDN
• 2001 (Household Internet Spending) -- $2.0 billion CDN
• 2000 (Household Internet Spending) -- $1.1 billion CDN
• 1999 (Household Internet Spending) -- $417 million CDN

Information Sources:

Statistics Canada, Canadian Internet Use Survey, 2005, August 15, 2006

Statistics Canada: Survey of Electronic Commerce and Technology (SECT) 2005, April 20, 2006

Statistics Canada: Survey of Electronic Commerce and Technology (SECT) 2004, April 20, 2005

Statistics Canada: Survey of Electronic Commerce and Technology (SECT) 2003, April 16, 2004

Statistics Canada: Survey of Electronic Commerce and Technology (SECT) 2002, April 2, 2003

Statistics Canada, Household Internet Use Survey HIUS 2003,
September 23, 2004

Statistics Canada, Household Internet Use Survey HIUS 2002,
September 18, 2003