The U.K. is now a global leader in the mobile market, with its residents who consume more data on their phones or tablets than any other country, according to an Ofcom report on mobile use.

The U.K. uses 424 megabytes of data each month — a 60% hike from last year. Second-runner-up Japan uses 392 megabytes per month, and the U.S. places sixth using 319 megabytes of data, The Guardian reports.

Ofcom also found that U.K. Internet users spend, on average, 728 minutes a week online, a slight drop from last year's average of 746 minutes.

SEE ALSO: Texting Overtakes Talking in the UK [STUDY]

The increase in data usage could stem from U.K. users accessing television via Internet in high quantities (even more than the U.S.), Ofcom suggests. The Financial Times also reports that the U.K. has "one of the highest levels of penetration of smartphones in the world at 58% of the population, while just fewer than one in five owns a tablet computer."

The FT adds that there has been recent criticism of the U.K. stalling in rolling out 4G mobile networks, which are better equipped to deal with the heavy data usage of the country's residents.

But it is in online shopping and social network usage on mobile that the U.K. really has a stronghold. Check out the video above to learn more.

Were you surprised that U.K. residents are the highest users of mobile data? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Photo via iStockphoto, CGinspiration