| The number of Internet users around the world
is constantly growing. The Computer
Industry Almanac has reported that by the year 2002, 490
million people around the world will have Internet access,
that is 79.4 per 1,000 people worldwide, and 118 people per
1,000 by year-end 2005. The top 15 countries will account
for nearly 82 percent of the these worldwide Internet users
(including business, educational, and home Internet users).
By the year 2000 there will be 25 countries where over 10
percent of the population will be Internet users.
The US has an overwhelming lead in Internet users with
more than 110 million projected for year-end 1999, which
is nearly 43 percent of the total 259 million worldwide
Internet users. The US will have one-third of the total
Internet users in 2002, and that number will decline to
27 percent by the end of 2005.
| Top 15 Nations in Internet Use at Year-End
2000 |
| Rank |
Nation |
Internet Users
(millions) |
Share % |
| 1. |
United States |
135.7 |
36.2 |
| 2. |
Japan |
26.9 |
7.18 |
| 3. |
Germany |
19.1 |
5.10 |
| 4. |
UK |
17.9 |
4.77 |
| 5. |
China |
15.8 |
4.20 |
| 6. |
Canada |
15.2 |
4.05 |
| 7. |
South Korea |
14.8 |
3.95 |
| 8. |
Italy |
11.6 |
3.08 |
| 9. |
Brazil |
10.6 |
2.84 |
| 10. |
France |
9.0 |
2.39 |
| 11. |
Australia |
8.1 |
2.16 |
| 12. |
Russia |
6.6 |
1.77 |
| 13. |
Taiwan |
6.5 |
1.73 |
| 14. |
Netherlands |
5.4 |
1.45 |
| 15. |
Spain |
5.2 |
1.39 |
|
Worldwide Total |
374.9 |
100 |
| Source: eTForecasts |
|