63 percent of Norwegians used social media in the second quarter of 2012, compared to 59 percent earlier in the year, according to Statistics Norway.

While increasing numbers of woman and older people dabbled with social networks, the share of users in the 25-34 age group dipped from 87 to 82 percent.

The agency’s round-up of IT usage also showed that every second household in Norway now has access to the internet via mobile broadband. In all, 93 percent of households have access to the internet.

The share of mobile broadband users has risen from 34 to 48 percent since the same period last year.

Most users of mobile broadband also have access to a fixed broadband connection at home, with just 8 percent relying solely on a mobile solution.

The figures further indicate that some 86 percent of the population used internet banking services in the second quarter of 2012.

Over the last 12 months, some 76 percent of the population has used the internet to buy and order goods or services.

Norwegians also used the internet in their dealings with officialdom, with 76 percent of internet users interacting with public authorities online in the last year, Statistics Norway said.