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May 15, 2008 - 08:00 AM US
Eastern Timezone
Internet Ten-fold Growth in Ten Years
First Quarter 2008 estimates indicate
that 1,407,724,920 people in the world
use the Internet. Substantial Internet
growth in last ten years.
Bogota, May 15, 2008 -- Internet
World Stats released today consolidated
figures showing that Internet usage
continues to increase in all the world
regions. Internet growth has been ten-fold
in the last ten years, from the approximately
147 million Internet users reported for
year-end 1998 to the current 1,407 million
users in 1Q 2008.
World Internet penetration rate is now
21.1%, based on a 2008 population estimate
of 6,676,120,288. This means that today
one out of every five people in the planet
uses the Internet. The following is the
distribution of Internet users by
geographical regions today.
Asia has the largest population of Internet
users, currently at 529,701,704 and the
largest potential for growth. Future Internet
growth will be substantial in Asia considering
the current low penetration rate of 14.0%.
Following in size is Europe with 382,005,271
Internet users, where the penetration rate
is high, currently at 47.7%.
North America, mainly Canada and the United
States, represent the third largest group of
Internet users in the world with 246,402,574
people. The Internet penetration rate in that
region is the highest in the world with 73.1%.
Another region with very high Internet
penetration rate is Oceania, mainly Australia
and New Zealand, with 57.0% and 19,353,462
users.
Latin America and the Caribbean house the
fourth largest group of Internet users,
currently numbering 137,300,309 and growing
at a fast rate. Internet penetration is
23.8% in this region.
The smallest Internet usage regions in the
world are Africa with 51,022,400 and the
Middle East with 41,939,200 people. Although
current Internet penetration rates are low,
both regions have exhibited substantial
Internet growth rates in the last few years.
For further details, charts and graphs, please visit the
website at www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
About Internet World Stats
Internet World Stats is a
leading web site that provides a
broad variety of statistical
information services regarding
Internet usage and penetration in
over 233 countries and
territories, for use by the
academia, the global business
community, market researchers,
and the general Internet
public.
For complete and up-to-date
Internet Usage Statistics and information,
visit their site at www.internetworldstats.com.
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