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Worldwide Internet Users Top 1.2 Billion in 2006
USA Tops 210M Internet Users
February 12, 2007 -
The worldwide number of Internet users surpassed 1.2
billion in 2006—up from only 2M+ in 1990, 45M in 1995 and 430M in 2000.
Worldwide yearly increase in Internet users is 140M to 145M in the next
five years, which means the 2B mark will happen in 2011 or 2012. Much
of current and future Internet user growth is coming from populous
countries—especially
the BRIC
countries—Brazil,
Russia, India, China. In the next decade many Internet users will be supplementing PC Internet
usage with Smartphone, mobile phone and mobile device Internet usage. In developing
countries many new Internet users will come from cell phone and Smartphone
Internet usage. The U.S. continues to lead with over 210M Internet users
at year-end 2006. The two most populous countries—China and India—are
now in 2nd and 4th place in Internet users. Other
populous countries such as Brazil, Russia and Indonesia have also moved
into the top 15 ranking.
| 1. U.S. |
210.2 |
17.3 |
| 2. China |
131.1 |
10.8 |
| 3. Japan |
90.9 |
7.5 |
| 4. India |
67.6 |
5.6 |
| 5. Germany |
50.3 |
4.1 |
| 6. UK |
39.7 |
3.3 |
| 7. South Korea |
35.0 |
2.9 |
| 8. France |
32.0 |
2.6 |
| 9. Italy |
31.6 |
2.6 |
| 10. Brazil |
29.5 |
2.4 |
| 11. Russia |
27.6 |
2.3 |
| 12. Canada |
23.3 |
1.9 |
| 13. Indonesia |
22.7 |
1.9 |
| 14. Mexico |
20.6 |
1.7 |
| 15. Spain |
17.8 |
1.5 |
| Top 15 Countries |
829.9 |
68.3 |
| Worldwide Total |
1,216 |
100 |
Internet
user penetration is now over 70% for the leading countries
and future growth is limited for these countries. Internet user penetration for the populous
and developing countries remains low, but has room to grow. The BRIC
countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) have Internet penetration of 15%,
19%, 6% and 10%, respectively. Wireless web usage will account for much
of future Internet user growth in many developing countries.
More information is available in "Internet Users By Country", a yearly market research report
by eTForecasts. The report estimates and forecasts the number of Internet users
and broadband subscribers for 57
countries and the six main regions of the world for 1990 through 2011.
eTForecasts publishes market research reports for the PC, PDA/Smartphones,
cell phones and Internet industries.
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