World Internet Usage Hits 20 Percent
5/12/2008

Global Internet Growth Nearly Doubles Since 50x15 Premiere in Davos

When Hector Ruiz announced a new initiative called 50x15 at the World Economic Forum in 2004, the program’s goal of connecting 50 percent of the world to the Internet and computing devices by 2015 was called “bold and far-reaching.” At the time, only 11 percent of the world had Internet access. But in just four years since Ruiz’s announcement in Davos, Internet usage worldwide has nearly doubled according to a recent update provided by Internet World Stats.

“Today the average Internet penetration rate for the world is 20.0%,” said Enrique De Argaez, the editor of the Internet World Stats Website. “Internet users in the world have grown from 361 million in the year 2000 to 1,319 million people at year end 2007. This represents a very impressive growth of 265.6%.”

While the growth of Internet usage worldwide is impressive, there’s plenty of room for more. The four world regions below the average Internet penetration rate are Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean, all areas where 50x15 is deploying learning labs and other digital inclusion projects. Much progress has been made but more work effort is required to accelerate the gains. In Africa for instance, Internet adoption has been exponential, but still less than five percent of the continent is connected. Asia, which includes countries such as China and India, has enormous potential for growth due to its rapidly rising economies and massive population. Currently less than 14% of Asian inhabitants have affordable access to the Internet, however, there is plenty of room for growth.

Internet Usage and World Population Statistics can be found on the 50x15 Learning Lab Google Map and on the 50x15.com Internet Usage page.

Statistics are based on data compiled by AMD for 50x15, primarily using statistics published by Internet World Stats, which obtains data from Nielsen/NetRatings, the International Telecommunications Union, by local network interface cards, and by other reliable sources. Additional information for understanding the use and growth of the Internet can be found at the Internet World Stats Website: www.internetworldstats.com. For more information on how Internet usage statistics are compiled, see the Internet World Stats' Site Surfing Guide.