Online Usage Round-Up: Internet Usage Now More Than 28 Million
The number of internet users reached 28.3 million over the third quarter of 2006, according to figures released by BMRB. This represents a 10.6% growth from the same period last year.
The total number of people going online is now nearly five million more than it was two years ago.
Usage Location
Internet usage at home continues to grow with over 26 million people using the web over the last quarter. This is an increase of over 13% from 2005.
It means that there are now almost six million more home internet users than in 2004.
| Internet Users By Location | |||||
| (‘000s) | 3rd Qtr 04 | 3rd Qtr 05 | 3rd Qtr 06 | YoY % Change Q304 – Q305 | YoY % Change Q305 – Q306 |
| All users | 23.42 | 25.612 | 28.342 | 9.35 | 10.65 |
| Work users | 7.995 | 8.791 | 9.958 | 9.95 | 13.27 |
| Home users | 20.41 | 23.331 | 26.427 | 14.31 | 13.26 |
| Academic users | 2.445 | 2.756 | 2.681 | 12.71 | -2.72 |
Gender
Although men still account for the majority of internet users, usage amongst women is growing at a faster rate. The number of women users increased by 13% year on year, with 13.3 million now accessing the web.
Men make up just over 15 million of all internet users, a solid increase of 8.6% from 2005.
| Internet Users By Gender | |||||
| (millions) | 3rd Qtr 04 | 3rd Qtr 05 | 3rd Qtr 06 | YoY % Change 04 – 05 | YoY % Change 05 – 06 |
| Male | 12.64 | 13.83 | 15.02 | 9.41 | 8.6 |
| Female | 10.77 | 11.78 | 13.32 | 9.37 | 13.07 |
Age
There are now a greater number of older people using the internet than ever before. 3.4 million of those aged 45-54 are now online and 1.98 million of people aged 65 and over have accessed the web. Both age groups have experienced massive year on year growth of 21% and 29% respectively.
It is amongst the younger groups however where usage remains the highest. 35-44-year-olds are the largest single grouping accounting for 6.5 million of all users.
| Internet Users By Age | |||||
| (millions) | 3rd Qtr 04 | 3rd Qtr 05 | 3rd Qtr 06 | YoY % Change 04 – 05 | YoY % Change 05 – 06 |
| 15-24 | 5.15 | 5.63 | 5.95 | 9.32 | 5.68 |
| 25-34 | 4.91 | 5.37 | 5.66 | 9.36 | 5.4 |
| 35-44 | 5.38 | 5.89 | 6.51 | 9.47 | 10.52 |
| 45-54 | 3.98 | 4.35 | 4.81 | 9.29 | 10.57 |
| 55-64 | 2.57 | 2.81 | 3.4 | 9.33 | 20.99 |
| 65+ | 1.4 | 1.53 | 1.98 | 9.28 | 29.41 |
Social Grade
There are now over 18 million ABC1s using the internet compared to 17 million during the same period last year and around 16 million two years ago.
The biggest growth in users occurred amongst DEs however, whose usage grew by 22.1 % from 2005, meaning that they now make up 4.5 million of all users.
| Internet Users By Social Grade | |||||
| (millions) | 3rd Qtr 04 | 3rd Qtr 05 | 3rd Qtr 06 | YoY % Change 04 – 05 | YoY % Change 05 – 06 |
| AB | 8.19 | 8.7 | 9.06 | 6.22 | 4.13 |
| C1 | 7.72 | 8.45 | 9.35 | 9.45 | 10.65 |
| C2 | 4.44 | 4.73 | 5.38 | 6.53 | 13.74 |
| DE | 3.04 | 3.71 | 4.53 | 22 | 22.1 |
BMRB: www.bmrb.co.uk