The number of worldwide internet users will top 665 million by the end of this year, an increase of 22% on the 2001 figure, according to a new report from eTForecasts.
The research firm estimates that 121 million new users have come online in 2002 and the global internet population is predicted to exceed 1 billion in 2005. This forecast corresponds with a recent study by the United Nations (see
World Internet Population Continues To Rise). However, growth rates are slowing in the developed world and yearly increases of 20%+ will soon be a thing of the past.
The study, Internet Users By Country, revealed that the US is the dominant online nation with almost two-and-a-half times as many users as Japan. However, the most significant growth is occurring in China, which is expected to move into second place in the second half of 2003. Germany is the leading European internet country with thirty million users, three million more than than the UK.
Despite its massive lead in total users, the US ranks only seventh in terms of per capita internet usage. The report says that it will remain behind the likes of Scandinavia and South Korea if mobile and entertainment device usage does not pick up.
| Top 15 Countries In Internet Usage |
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| Rank |
Country |
Internet Users (000s) |
Share (%) |
| 1 |
US |
160,700 |
24.13 |
| 2 |
Japan |
64,800 |
9.73 |
| 3 |
China |
54,500 |
8.18 |
| 4 |
Germany |
30,350 |
4.56 |
| 5 |
UK |
27,150 |
4.08 |
| 6 |
South Korea |
26,900 |
4.04 |
| 7 |
Italy |
20,850 |
3.13 |
| 8 |
Canada |
17,830 |
2.68 |
| 9 |
France |
16,650 |
2.50 |
| 10 |
India |
16,580 |
2.49 |
| 11 |
Brazil |
15,840 |
2.38 |
| 12 |
Russia |
13,500 |
2.03 |
| 13 |
Australia |
10,450 |
1.57 |
| 14 |
Spain |
10,390 |
1.56 |
| 15 |
Taiwan |
9,510 |
1.43 |
| |
Top 15 Total |
496,000 |
74.48 |
| |
Worldwide Total |
665,910 |
100.00 |
| Source: eTForecasts, December 2002 |
