19 per cent of consumers globally make purchases using their smartphone, according to research commissioned by WorldPay. At 46 per cent, China has the largest percentage of consumers that use their smartphone to purchase online, closely followed by India, at 40 per cent.

The Global Online Shopper Report surveyed 19,000 consumers and 153 senior decision makers from global retail merchants in 15 countries, including the UK, USA, China, Germany, Brazil, and India. It found that 19 per cent of shoppers use a smartphone, and 11 per cent buy on a Tablet. Meanwhile, the average mobile shopper has 2.6 shopping apps on their device – and again, Chinese shoppers lead the way, at an average 5.7.

Mobile usage is rising particularly among those the report identifies as ‘heavy spenders’ – those who spent 30 per cent of their disposable income online in the past year. Globally, 55 per cent of these heavy spenders used a smartphone – and 67 per cent used a Tablet – to make purchases online in the last three months.

“Online shoppers are becoming increasingly mobile, no longer chained to their PC to buy goods and services,” says Philip McGriskin, chief product officer, WorldPay. “The way shoppers engage with mobile devices is also evolving and will drive the future of eCommerce, as consumers look to purchase through mobile sites and apps. Developing economies and heavy shoppers are ahead of the adoption curve, and as technologies develop and merchants become more experienced offering these services, the eCommerce landscape will change beyond recognition.”

Overall, online shoppers spend an average 22 per cent of their annual outgoings – 25 per cent in the UK – on eCommerce. They make the majority of their purchases at 20:40 – 20:05 in the apparently early-to-bed UK – which other research has shown is peak Tablet usage time.

Globally, 64 per cent of shoppers would consider spending more than 50 per cent of their disposable income online – and 7 per cent said they already do.