Worldwide
Internet Users Top 1.2 Billion in 2006.
USA Tops
210M
Internet
Users.
February 12, 2007 - The worldwide number of Internet users surpassed 1.2 billion in 2006—up from only 2M+ in 1990, 45M in 1995 and 430M in 2000. Worldwide yearly increase in Internet users is 140M to 145M in the next five years, which means the 2B mark will happen in 2011 or 2012. Much of current and future Internet user growth is coming from populous countries—especially the BRIC countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China. In the next decade many Internet users will be supplementing PC Internet usage with Smartphone, mobile phone and mobile device Internet usage. In developing countries many new Internet users will come from cell phone and Smartphone Internet usage. The U.S. continues to lead with over 210M Internet users at year-end 2006. The two most populous countries—China and India—are now in 2nd and 4th place in Internet users. Other populous countries such as Brazil, Russia and Indonesia have also moved into the top 15 ranking.
Top
15 Countries in Internet Usage |
||
Year-end
2006: |
Internet
Users (#M) |
Share
% |
| 1. USA | 210.2 | 17.3 |
| 2. China | 131.1 | 10.8 |
| 3. Japan | 90.9 | 7.5 |
| 4. India | 67.6 | 5.6 |
| 5. Germany | 50.3 | 4.1 |
| 6. UK | 39.7 | 3.3 |
| 7. South Korea | 35.0 | 2.9 |
| 8. France | 32.0 | 2.6 |
| 9. Italy | 31.6 | 2.6 |
| 10. Brazil | 29.5 | 2.4 |
| 11. Russia | 27.6 | 2.3 |
| 12. Canada | 23.3 | 1.9 |
| 13. Indonesia | 22.7 | 1.9 |
| 14. Mexico | 20.6 | 1.7 |
| 15. Spain | 17.8 | 1.5 |
| Top 15 Countries | 829.9 | 68.3 |
| Worldwide Total | 1,216 | 100 |
Internet user penetration is now over 70% for the leading countries and future growth is limited for these countries. Internet user penetration for the populous and developing countries remains low, but has room to grow. The BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) have Internet penetration of 15%, 19%, 6% and 10%, respectively. Wireless web usage will account for much of future Internet user growth in many developing countries.
More information is available in “Internet Users by Country,” a yearly market research report by Computer Industry Almanac. The report estimates and forecasts the number of Internet users and broadband subscribers for over 55 countries and the six main regions of the world for 1990 through 2011.
Computer Industry Almanac publishes market research reports for the PC, mobile phone, Smartphones, cell phones and Internet industries. For more information see Market Research Reports.
