New figures from the Office of National Statistics show that 16.46 million UK households currently have internet access, representing 65% of households and an increase of 1.23 million households since 2007.
Great Britain has seen an average increase of over one million households per year connecting to the internet since 2004, reaching a total of 16.05 million this year.
Households With Access To The Internet, Great Britain and UK, 2002 to 2008 | |||||||
Great Britain | UK | ||||||
Year | Percent | Number of Households | Percentage Change on Previous Year | Year | Percent | Number of Households | Percentage Change on Previous Year |
2002 | 46 | 11.02m | – | 2002 | – | – | – |
2003 | 50 | 11.88m | 8 | 2003 | – | – | – |
2004 | 51 | 12.16m | 2 | 2004 | – | – | – |
2005 | 55 | 13.26m | 9 | 2005 | – | – | – |
2006 | 57 | 13.93m | 5 | 2006 | 57 | 14.26m | – |
2007 | 61 | 14.94m | 7 | 2007 | 61 | 15.23m | 7 |
2008 | 65 | 16.05m | 7 | 2008 | 65 | 16.46m | 8 |
Source: Office of National Statistics |
The South East has the highest level of internet access, at 74%, with those in the North East least likely to have access.
The proportion of adults who were recent internet users who accessed the internet every day or almost every day was 69% (23.5 million adults).
The 16-24 age group used it most, with 77% using it every day or almost every day, while 73% of men now use the internet every day or almost every day, compared with 66% of women.
Earlier this year online research firm eMarketer released a forecast predicting that 42.8 million Britons will go online in 2012, accounting for about 70% of the population (see 70% Of UK Will Go Online In 2012).