Online shopping in Canada grew by more than 61 percent in the past two years, according to a new report by Statistics Canada Monday.

The report shows Canadians placed 12.8 billion Canadian dollars (about 10.4 billion U.S. dollars) worth of orders in 2007, up 61 percent from 2005.

Total orders grew from 49.4 million in 2005 to 69.9 million in 2007.

Overall, more than 8.4 million Canadians aged 16 and over purchased something online in 2007, up from nearly 6.9 million in 2005.

Consumers in the 25 to 34 age bracket shopped online the most, with 51 percent reporting placing an on-line order.

The increase in part may be related to consumers' growing familiarity with on-line shopping, said Ed Strapagiel, a retail analyst with the Toronto-based Kubas Consultants.

Strapagiel also said that in the two years there has been an increase in the number of retailers offering on-line shopping.

Statistics Canada also reported 43 percent of Canadians used the internet to research potential purchases, including consumer electronics, housewares, furniture, clothing, jewelry and accessories.

Of the shoppers who looked on-line, 64 percent said they later went to a traditional store to purchase the product.