Latest Headcount: 148 Million Online

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According to the Computer Industry Almanac, there were more than 147 million Internet users in the world at the end of 1998.

At year end, 1996, the Computer Industry Almanac reported there were 61 million Internet users.

The US had more than 76 million Internet users, 52 percent of the worldwide total, at the end of 1998. The top 15 nations (shown at right) account for 89 percent of the world’s Internet users.

The numbers in the table include adult users that use the Internet weekly at home or work. When occasional users are added, the numbers are 20-30 percent higher.

The Computer Industry Almanac projects that there will be 320 million Internet users worldwide at the end of the year 2000, and more than 720 million users worldwide at the end of 2005. The US Internet population will grow to more than 207 million Internet users in 2005, that will be 29 percent of the world’s total.

NUA Internet surveys puts the worldwide number of Net users at more than 150 million. Regardless of which number you use, it is clear that the US and Canada lead the way as far as geogrpahic regions are concerned, and the Middle East and Africa have a long way to go.

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February 17, 1999