SMEsOctober 29, 2026

Spain's digital SMEs in 2026: websites, social media, AI and e-commerce according to official INE data

The most recent official figures on how Spanish companies use the internet, split by size, with the base of each percentage and what they mean if you run a micro-business.

According to Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE, 22/10/2026), in the first quarter of 2026 36.2% of companies with fewer than 10 employees and an internet connection had a website, compared with 82.9% of those with 10 or more. 32.1% and 65.4% used social media, and 21.4% and 33.6% used artificial intelligence. In 2025, 11.8% and 29.0% sold online.

The 5 key figures for 2026

Indicator (INE)	Fewer than 10 employees	10 or more employees	Base and period
Have a website	36.2%	82.9%	Firms with internet access · Q1 2026
Use social media	32.1%	65.4%	Firms with internet access · Q1 2026
Use artificial intelligence	21.4%	33.6%	Firms with internet access · Q1 2026
Sold through e-commerce	11.8%	29.0%	All firms · year 2025
Have an internet connection	81.2%	98.3%	All firms · Q1 2026

Source: INE, Survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in companies, press release of 22/10/2026.

How many micro-businesses have a website?

36.2% of firms with fewer than 10 employees and internet access have a website. Put the other way round, 63.8% of connected micro-businesses have no website of their own (our calculation). Among firms with 10 or more employees, a website is the norm: 82.9% have one.

Mind the base. The percentage is calculated over firms with internet access, which among those with fewer than 10 employees are 81.2%. Firms without a connection are not counted.

How many use social media?

32.1% of firms with fewer than 10 employees and internet access use social media, against 65.4% of those with 10 or more. Among micro-businesses the share (32.1%) is close to the share with a website (36.2%): roughly one in three.

Who uses artificial intelligence?

33.6% of firms with 10 or more employees and 21.4% of those with fewer than 10 used some AI technology (in both cases, over firms with internet access). It is the indicator with the smallest gap between the two groups. The press release does not break down what they use it for.

By sector, among firms with 10 or more employees:

Sector (10+ employees)	Use AI	Paid cloud	Sell online (2025)
Services	38.2%	41.9%	35.1%
Industry	29.1%	37.5%	27.7%
Construction	22.6%	32.9%	7.0%
Total	33.6%	39.4%	29.0%

How many SMEs sell online?

In 2025, 29.0% of firms with 10 or more employees sold through e-commerce, generating €419,706 million in turnover. Among firms with fewer than 10 employees the share drops to 11.8%.

Has it improved since last year?

The table sets this year's figures next to last year's release. They are not strictly comparable: INE warns that from reference year 2025 the survey uses the new CNAE-2025 activity classification and covers division 56 and group 95.1, so the series shows trends, not exact changes.

Indicator (Q1 2025 → Q1 2026)	Fewer than 10 employees	10 or more employees
Have a website	37.0% → 36.2%	84.5% → 82.9%
Use social media	37.8% → 32.1%	69.7% → 65.4%
Use artificial intelligence	13.4% → 21.4%	21.1% → 33.6%
Sold online (2024 → 2025)	8.6% → 11.8%	26.6% → 29.0%

The AI jump is clear: among firms with 10 or more employees it had already risen from 12.4% in 2024 to 21.1% in 2025. Website and social media figures are slightly lower in 2026, and with the change in the survey population it is impossible to tell whether that is a real decline.

And compared with Europe?

This is a different indicator with a different methodology, so it should not be mixed with INE figures. According to the European Commission's Digital Decade 2026 country report, 75.35% of Spanish SMEs reach at least a basic level of digital intensity (2025 data), above the EU average of 71.39%. The EU target for 2030 is 90%.

What it means for your business: 4 opportunities

1.A website that answers what your customers search for. If almost two in three connected micro-businesses have no website, a clear site with your services, your area and an easy way to get in touch already sets you apart. More in web design for SMEs.
2.Selling or taking bookings online. Only 11.8% of firms with fewer than 10 employees sold through e-commerce in 2025. You do not need a large online shop: a catalogue with ordering, a booking system or a well-built quote form already count.
3.AI for specific tasks, not because it is trendy. One in five connected micro-businesses already uses it. It pays off most in repetitive work: answering frequent questions, preparing quotes or following up on leads. See examples in what an SME can automate in marketing and sales.
4.Get organised before you invest. Before paying for tools, find out what you have and what is missing. There is a step-by-step method in how to digitalise your business.

Where does your business stand?

Our free diagnosis reviews your website, your visibility on Google and in AI assistants, your Google Business Profile and three search opportunities. You receive it by email within 24 working hours, with no commitment.

Request the free diagnosis

Methodology: how to read these percentages

▸Source: INE Survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in companies. Final data published on 22 October 2026.
▸Base: website, social media and AI are calculated over firms with internet access. Connection and e-commerce, over all firms of each size.
▸Period: ICT usage refers to the first quarter of 2026; e-commerce, to the year 2025.
▸Sample: about 15,000 firms with 10 or more employees and about 10,000 with fewer than 10, stratified by size, activity and region.
▸Comparability: from reference year 2025 the survey uses CNAE-2025 and includes division 56 and group 95.1, so INE warns the data are not strictly comparable with previous years.
▸Our calculations: the "63.8% without a website" is 100 minus 36.2. It is not a figure published by INE.

Frequently asked questions

How many Spanish SMEs have a website in 2026?

According to INE, in the first quarter of 2026, 36.2% of firms with fewer than 10 employees and internet access had a website, and 82.9% of those with 10 or more. Put the other way round, almost two in three connected micro-businesses have no website of their own.

How many companies use artificial intelligence in Spain?

33.6% of firms with 10 or more employees and 21.4% of those with fewer than 10 used some AI technology in the first quarter of 2026, in both cases over firms with internet access. Among firms with 10 or more employees, services is the sector that uses it most (38.2%).

Can these figures be compared with previous years?

Not entirely. INE warns that this year's data are not strictly comparable with previous years, because from reference year 2025 it classifies activity with CNAE-2025 and has added division 56 and group 95.1 to the survey. The series show trends, not exact changes.

What period do the figures cover?

Questions on ICT usage (website, social media, AI, connection) refer to the first quarter of 2026. E-commerce refers to the whole of 2025.

How often does INE publish this survey?

It is an annual survey. The sample is around 15,000 firms with 10 or more employees and 10,000 with fewer than 10, following Eurostat methodology, so the next edition will allow these figures to be updated.

Sources

INE: Survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in companies. Year 2025 - First quarter 2026. Final data. Press release of 22/10/2026 (in Spanish, accessed 28/10/2026). https://www.ine.es/dyngs/Prensa/ETICCE20251T2026.htm
INE: Survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in companies. Year 2024 - First quarter 2025. Press release (in Spanish, accessed 28/10/2026), for the previous-year table. https://www.ine.es/dyngs/Prensa/ETICCE20241T2025.htm
European Commission: Digital Decade 2026 country report, Spain. SWD(2026) 155 final, part 26/27, 17/06/2026, transmitted to the Council of the EU (accessed 28/10/2026). https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10476-2026-ADD-55/en/pdf

Related services: Web design for SMEs · Free digital diagnosis