As contactless payments become the norm in Germany, a recent survey by the IT industry association Bitkom reveals that a significant majority of the population now opt for their smartphones or smartwatches over traditional wallets. The survey, which polled 1,004 people in Germany aged 16 and above, found that 64 percent of respondents had made at least one contactless payment using a mobile device in the past 12 months.
This trend is evident across all age groups, with the 16- to 29-year-old age bracket leading the charge, as 81 percent of this group now use contactless payment methods. Even among the 65-and-above age group, the adoption of contactless payments has increased, with 29 percent of this group making occasional use of smartwatches or smartphones for transactions.
The data also shows that a significant proportion of the population use contactless payment methods frequently, with seven percent making multiple daily transactions, 19 percent doing so daily and 25 percent making regular weekly payments. Six percent of respondents make weekly payments, while seven percent use contactless methods less often.
When including traditional credit or bank cards, the survey found that a staggering 98 percent of Germans make at least occasional contactless payments. Even among the senior population, 96 percent of those aged 65 and above use contactless payment methods, with only four percent of the total population making less frequent use of these methods. The survey’s findings highlight the widespread adoption of contactless payments in Germany, with a significant majority of the population now opting for this convenient and modern payment method.