First Billion Internet
Users
Worldwide Internet usage reached and
surpassed the first billion people on December 2005, according to
data compiled by the Internet World Stats web site. Growth in all
countries and regions of the world shows an increase of 182%
between 2000 and 2005.
Presently 1,018 million people use the Internet, this represents
approximately 15.7% of total world population. Detailed
distribution and growth by world regions can be seen at the Big
Picture Stats page. It is interesting to observe that the less
penetrated parts of the world, which are Africa, the Middle East,
Latin America and the Caribbean, show the largest growth rates
during the five year period analyzed by Internet World Stats.
The Middle East region possesses the highest growth rate,
454.2%, users having increased from 3,284,800 to 18,203,500
million people. Next in growth is Africa with 403.7%, where usage
increased from 4,514,400 to 22,737,500 million people. Latin
America and the Caribbean also exhibit an important five year
increase from 18,068,919 to 79,033,597 Internet users, equivalent
to 337.4% in growth.
Internet users in Asia increased by 249,967,713 people, the
largest growth in absolute terms. Europe increased by 185,025,864
people, equivalent to a 176.1% growth, in the five year period
studied. Oceania and Northern America, the more mature Internet
usage regions, exhibit the lowest growth rates, 134.8% and
108.9%. For further details, visit Internet World Stats.
The above information corresponds to data duly sourced and
compiled by the Miniwatts Marketing Group, a market research firm
located in Bogota, Colombia that has published the Internet World
Stats for over five years.
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