Internet Users By Country | Global Finance

As of 2009, approximately 1.7 billion people, or 26% of the world’s population, have access to the Internet. The highest penetration was seen in Europe, at 62.9%, followed by the Americas at 48.3%, and the CIS-or former Russian States-at 35.7%. Asia-Pacific had 19.3 internet users per 100 inhabitants, the Arab States were at 18.4, and Africa had the lowest penetration, at 8.8 users per 100 inhabitants.

By Tina Aridas – Project Coordinator: Alessandro Magno

Data is from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues.

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The term "Internet users" includes subscribers who pay for Internet access (dial-up, leased line and fixed broadband) and people who have access without paying directly, either as a member of a household or from work, school, a public library or Internet café. Therefore, the total number of Internet users can be two or three times the number of Internet subscribers in developed countries and even more in developing countries.

Widespread use of the Internet was prompted by the introduction of the World Wide Web in 1992. In a short time its use spread to corporations and to individuals, but by 1995 only 16 million people worldwide, less than a half percent of the world's population, were online. However, by 2000 that percentage grew to 5% (304 million) and doubled by 2003; by 2005 the number of users worldwide passed 1 billion, or more than 15% of the population, and has continued to grow steadily, nearly doubling again.

English, Chinese and Spanish are the languages used most often on the Internet, accounting for almost 60%, but Chinese has seen the most growth, with a more than 1000% increase since 2000 (compared with 237% for English).

In addition to the obvious beneficial effects on productivity, Internet access has socio-economic effects, including acquisition of knowledge and skills that are required for jobs and education.

The "digital divide" within a country—richer, urban dwellers having more access to the Internet and poorer, rural dwellers with less—and between countries affects the potential of many people to access its benefits. The "global digital divide" causes some countries to fall even further behind in technology, education, labor, democracy and tourism. One of the barriers to Internet access within countries is the limited availability of fixed broadband access. The introduction of high-speed mobile Internet access has the potential to greatly change this.

Data is from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues; with additional information from the World Bank and Internet World Stats.

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