The number of worldwide internet users will increase 44% between 2007 and 2012, reaching 1.8 billion users, according to a new forecast from Jupiter Research.
The
Worldwide Online Population Forecast, 2007 to 2012 report predicts that by 2012, one quarter of the worldwide population will access the Internet on a regular basis.
The growth in online populations of emerging economies is forecast to increase at double-digit rates during the next five years, driving the expansion of the worldwide online population.
However, in 2012 their online penetration levels will only reach levels the US experienced in 2000 and at a minimum will trail those of developed nations by five years’ time.
Vikram Sehgal, research director and lead author of the report for JupiterResearch, said: “Even though the emerging economies will have lower online penetration rates compared to the developed countries, JupiterResearch believes that they will ramp up the learning curve in adopting sophisticated online activities compared to the developing countries.
Brazil, Russia, India, and China will experience some of the highest growth rates. By 2011, China will overtake the US in number of regular online users to become the leading online population, with India following in a distant third place.
According to David Schatsky, president of JupiterResearch, “Asia will not only have the highest online growth rate compared to other regions in the world, but will also present a substantially large pool of sophisticated online users as a market to tap into.”
Figures from the IAB and PwC released in April revealed that online advertising grew almost 40% year on year in 2007 to a new high of over £2.8 billion (see UK Online Adspend Grows Almost 40% Year On Year In 2007).
In other research, eMarketer said that despite a weakening economy, growth in online advertising spending in the UK is still strong and is expected to grow (see UK Digital Sector Expected To Grow).
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