Almost Half Of Europeans Are Online, Finds Forrester
Almost half of all Europeans are now connected to the internet, with 43% having ordered goods or services online within the last three months, according to the latest figures from Forrester Research.
The data show that more than 12 million new users went online in the past year, with northern Europe still leading the way over the southern countries, despite faster growth now occuring in the south. Over 120 million Europeans now use the internet each month, with Sweden’s 73% penetration level leading the way.
In the UK, 57% of the population now has access to the web, with 49% connecting from home. Of those connected, 63% have made an order via the internet within the last three months.
The research also shows that three quarters of Europeans use a mobile phone. Penetration is again highest in Sweden, where 88% of people have a mobile.
| European Technology ‘Scorecard’ | ||||||
| Online | Online from home | Ordered online in last 3 months* | Use a mobile phone | Have a PC at home | Index | |
| Sweden | 73 | 66 | 48 | 88 | 76 | 130 |
| Netherlands | 71 | 62 | 39 | 85 | 73 | 122 |
| UK | 57 | 49 | 63 | 76 | 65 | 115 |
| Germany | 55 | 49 | 55 | 78 | 68 | 113 |
| Italy | 45 | 40 | 18 | 81 | 61 | 91 |
| France | 40 | 32 | 35 | 62 | 52 | 82 |
| Spain | 28 | 20 | 18 | 68 | 43 | 66 |
| Europe | 49 | 42 | 43 | 75 | 61 | 100 |
| * Base: Online Europeans | ||||||
| Source: Forrester Research, July 2003 | ||||||
