Internet User Classification

The IUC is a bespoke geodemographic classification that describes how people living in different parts of Great Britain interact with the Internet. It provides aggregate population profiles of Internet use and engagement at the Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) and Data Zone (DZ) level (2011 Census Geography). It has been developed in order to update and expand to the previous (2014) IUC and as such includes wider and more comprehensive data, built from a range of consumer, survey and open data collected by the GeoDS.

Content

The data are available for download at the bottom of this page. Also available are a user guide, which provides additional insight about the methodology and data used, and a shapefile for mapping. For detailed descriptions of the columns contained within the data, see the Variable Dictionary; and for an overview of the characteristics of the data, see the Data Summary. These files can also be downloaded from the bottom of this page.

Quality, Representation and Bias

For full details and evaluation of inputs, there is an accompanying published peer reviewed journal article. Data used in the classification were sourced from consumer purchasing records, surveys, and open data (e.g., broadband speeds from Ofcom). Small Area Estimation was used to extrapolate from representative surveys to the national extent. Consumer data including in the classification have representation that reflects the overarching customer distribution. Internal and external evaluations were conducted on the created typology, including linking the IUC to Census response rates, demonstrating its utility in identifying disparities in online engagement and informing targeted interventions.

Open

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Source Ofcom; BPS; ONS
Author ONS, Ofcom, BPS, GeoDS
Maintainer Prof Alex Singleton
Last Updated May 7, 2025, 13:21 (UTC)
Created December 17, 2024, 10:41 (UTC)
Attribution Alexiou, A. and Singleton, A. (2018). The 2018 Internet User Classification. GeoDS. Contains National Statistics data Crown copyright and database right (2017); Contains Ofcom data (2016). Contains GeoDS data from data partners (2017). Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (ES/L003546/1; 1390251).
Granularity LSOA11CD
Spatial Coverage Great Britain
Temporal Coverage July 2018