UK Internet Penetration Approaches 50%
Almost 12 million households in Britain now have access to the internet, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics.
Results from the Expenditure and Food Survey issued this week show that there were 11.7 million online homes by the end of March 2003. This represents an increase of 1.2 million year on year and means that 47% of UK households now have access to the web. Just over eight in ten (81%) have a dial-up connection while 17% of households claimed to have broadband access.
| Household Internet Penetration – Q1 Comparisons | ||
| Year | Households With Internet Access (m) | % Of All Households |
| 1999 | 3.2 | 13 |
| 2000 | 6.5 | 25 |
| 2001 | 9.2 | 36 |
| 2002 | 10.5 | 43 |
| 2003 | 11.7 | 47 |
| Source: ONS, July 2003 | ||
The study also found that 54% of adults had used the internet in the three months prior to interview, a rise of five percentage points compared with April 2002. Men are more likely than women to use the internet and surfing is especially popular amongst the younger generation.
| Proportion Of Adults Who Have Used Internet In Last Three Months | |
| % | |
| All Adults | 54 |
| Sex | |
| Men | 57 |
| Women | 51 |
| Age | |
| 16 to 24 | 78 |
| 25 to 44 | 72 |
| 45 to 54 | 59 |
| 55 to 64 | 41 |
| 65+ | 16 |
| Source: ONS, July 2003 | |