Global Web Growth & Usage Statistics

Internet Geography Facts Are Valuable International Marketing Tools

© Daniel Workman

Jun 26, 2008

Driven by search-related ads, money spent on Internet advertising will jump 26% in 2008 to almost US$30 billion from roughly $22 billion in the prior year. British consultants from ZenithOptimedia also report that online media now accounts for about 9.5% of ad budgets worldwide.

That percentage is expected to accelerate to more than 25% over at least the next 5 years, given that consumers spend 15% of their time on the Web.

Currently, Internet advertising reaches a global audience of 1.4 billion users. As the global usage level approaches a projected peak of 70% penetration, the online global target audience will eventually triple to over 4 billion users.

Global Internet Growth Statistics

From year 2000 to 2008, the Middle East region had the highest percentage increase in the number of Internet users with a world-leading 1177% gain. Africa finished second with a 1030% rise, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean which increased its Web users by 660%. More mature Internet markets like Asia (up 363%), Europe (up 264%), Oceania (up 154%) and North America (up 128%) grew their respective number of Web users at a more moderate pace.

Currently, those more mature markets represent the biggest audience for online advertising.

Global Internet Usage Statistics

The following list shows which regions have the most Internet users in 2008.

1. Asia … 529.7 million Internet users (14% of total population in the region)
2. Europe … 382 million (47.7%)
3. North America … 246.4 million (73.1%)
4. Latin America/Caribbean … 137.3 million (23.8%)
5. Africa … 51 million (5.3%)
6. Middle East … 41.9 million (21.3%)
7. Oceania/Australia … 19.4 million (57%).

Asian Countries Web Statistics

In terms of Internet users, the fastest-growing Asian countries in 2007 were Afghanistan (up 53,400% to 535,000 users), Myanmar (up 29,900% to 300,000), Uzbekistan (up 23,167% to 1.7 million), Vietnam (up 9013% to 18.2 million) and Pakistan (up 8,862% to 12 million).

Below is a list of the five Asian countries with the most Internet users.

1. China ... 210 million Internet users (15.9% of total population excluding Hong Kong & Macau)
2. Japan ... 87.5 million (68.7% of total population)
3. India ... 60 million (5.3%)
4. South Korea ... 34.9 million (71.2%)
5. Indonesia ... 20 million (8.5%).

European Countries Web Statistics

European nations with the fastest increases in number of Internet users in 2007 were Albania (up 18,738% to 266,000), Bosnia-Herzegovina (up 13,471% to 950,000), Belarus (up 2,943% to 5.5 million), Moldova (up 2,811% to 727,700) and Ukraine (up 2,673% to 5.5 million).

Below is a list of the five European countries with the most Internet users.

1. Germany ... 53.2 million Internet users (64.6% of total population)
2. United Kingdom ... 40.4 million (66.4%)
3. France ... 34.9 million (54.7%)
4. Italy ... 33.1 million (57%)
5. Russia ... 29.4 million (20.8%).

North American Countries Web Statistics

United States increased its number of Internet users by 125.6% in 2007 to 215.1 million (71.4% of total population). The number of Canadian Internet users rose by 73.2% to 22 million (65.9%).

Latin American/Caribbean Countries Web Statistics

Latin American countries with the fastest increases in number of Internet users in 2007 were Dominican Republic (up 3,718% to 2.1 million), Guatemala (up 1,931% to 1.3 million), El Salvador (up 1,650% to 700,000), Paraguay (up 1,200% to 260,000) and Colombia (up 1,050% to 10.1 million).

Below is a list of the five Latin American/Caribbean countries with the most Internet users.

1. Brazil ... 42.6 million Internet users (22.4% of total population)
2. Mexico ... 23.7 million (21.8%)
3. Argentina ... 16 million (39.7%)
4. Colombia ... 10.1 million (22.8%)
5. Peru ... 7.3 million (25.5%).

African Countries Web Statistics

African countries with the fastest increases in number of Internet users in 2007 were Somalia (up 48,900% to 98,000), Democratic Republic of Congo (up 45,980% to 230,400), Congo (up 13,900% to 70,000), Morocco (up 7,200% to 7.3 million) and Algeria (up 6,900% to 3.5 million).

Below is a list of the five African countries with the most Internet users.

1. Nigeria ... 10 million Internet users (7.2% of total population)
2. Egypt ... 8.6 million (10.5%)
3. Morocco ... 7.3 million (21.3%)
4. South Africa ... 5.1 million (11.6%)
5. Algeria ... 3.5 million (10.4%).

Middle Eastern Countries Web Statistics

Middle Eastern countries with the fastest increases in number of Internet users in 2007 were Iran (up 7,100% to 18 million), Syria (up 4,900% to 1.5 million), Saudi Arabia (up 2,250% to 4.7 million), Yemen (up 1,700% to 270,000) and Qatar (up 8,666% to 289,900).

Below is a list of the five Middle Eastern countries with the most Internet users.

1. Iran ... 18 million Internet users (27.5% of total population)
2. Saudi Arabia ... 4.7 million (17%)
3. Israel ... 3.7 million (57.6%)
4. United Arab Emirates ... 1.7 million (38.4%)
5. Syria ... 1.5 million (7.8%).

Oceania/Australian Countries Web Statistics

Australia increased its number of Internet users by 134.9% in 2007 to 15.5 million (75.9% of total population). The number of Internet users in New Zealand rose by 285.5% to 3.2 million (74.9%).

References

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on statistical data and graphical presentations from internetworldstats.com.

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