Top 15 Countries by Internet Audience Ranked by Total Unique Visitors - Dec. 2008

[Burano]

The total global internet office reached a milestone last month, surpassing 1 billion worldwide users aged 15 or more for the first time, according to ComScore. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for the highest share of global internet users at 41%, followed by Europe (28%), North America (18%), Latin-America (7%) and the Middle East & Africa (5%). China officially surpassed the U.S. internet audience for the first time accounting for nearly 18% of the world's users. Google sites led all others in terms of worldwide unique visitors, followed by Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL.

Top 15 Countries by Internet Audience Ranked by Total Unique Visitors - Dec. 2008

Country Total Unique Share of Total
Visitors (000) Worldwide Internet Audience (%)
Worldwide 1,007,730 100.0%
China 179,710 17.8%
United States 163,300 16.2%
Japan 59,993 6.0%
Germany 36,992 3.7%
United Kingdom 36,664 3.6%
France 34,010 3.4%
India 32,099 3.2%
Russia 28,998 2.9%
Brazil 27,688 2.7%
South Korea 27,254 2.7%
Canada 21,809 2.2%
Italy 20,780 2.1%
Spain 17,893 1.8%
Mexico 12,486 1.2%
Netherlands 11,812 1.2%
Source: comScore World Metrix, Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.

 

[FreshAvails.com]

The India, Russia and Germany in particular look very low to me based on population and technology access. Lots of potential in those areas for sure. Now if we can only get them interested in afternamrket .coms.....

 

[holeinone]

The India, Russia and Germany in particular look very low to me based on population and technology access. Lots of potential in those areas for sure. Now if we can only get them interested in afternamrket .coms.....

IMO they should be at the Japan. 6-7%

 

[DNProperty.com]

I can see India's numbers doubling in the next 5 years...that would still be only 70 million out of possibly 200 million who live in metro areas in India.

We haven't scratched the surface in Asia, Africa and even South America.

 

[mwzd]

I believe these stats are totally outdated.

Afaik, India is already at 60 million +

And I expect it to triple in the next five years.

 

[DNProperty.com]

Samit
I would love to see India online user triple, but don't see how its going to happen. I like your optimism and would like to hear why you say so...

Also, the other number thats important is Cable Broadband usage...which is very low in India. Only a year ago, it was being offered in Chennai...

 

[mwzd]

I would love to see India online user triple, but don't see how its going to happen. I like your optimism and would like to hear why you say so...

1. Cheaper hardware.

2. Free wifi all over India in 3-5 yrs at least in metros / a and b cities.

3. Self sufficient electric and solar powered units

4. Penetration - today even 'c' cities have cyber cafe's and internet connections thanks to the global traveller partially.

5. Cheaper broadband rates.

6. Semi-rural interest in web services including e-choupal etc.

I could go on all day, you've touched a topic pretty close to my heart and something i've been monitoring since 1998 almost on a quarterly basis, including inputs from nasscom / ites / web developers etc.

The online population in India was 500k when i launched my first website. We used dial-up then, used to cost $400 /mo for 1kbps operating speed.

Now we pay around $150/mo per 2mbps connection. This is only getting cheaper and faster. Wiimax is slated to launch later in 2009, 2gbps/mo for $100/mo. - a whole slew of 'portable' pcs has hit the market in the sub 2.2lbs range to enable the use of this tech.

And a comparison to the life cycle of cable television (currently unofficially at 300 million households in India) will help you draw similar conclusions, though it will take time and it should not have been, we'd be 10 yrs ahead.

 

[holeinone]

Samit
I would love to see India online user triple, but don't see how its going to happen. I like your optimism and would like to hear why you say so...

Also, the other number thats important is Cable Broadband usage...which is very low in India. Only a year ago, it was being offered in Chennai...

Internet over Cable has been offered in chennai for much longer than chennai, My folks have had a 1 MBps Line for 3 years. However,the prices are out of the reach of the average middle class consumer who spends $4-$10 for Mobile services and is expected to pay $20-50 for broadband. FYI most of the Cell phone users in India (Total- 350 million) still are on prepaid phones.

 

[DNProperty.com]

I am an optimist but doubt India will have FREE WIFI in 3-5 yrs in major cities...

That is something US Cities have been talking about for a few years now and no one has come up with a business plan that works (atleast to my knowledge)

Cable Broadband has ways to go in the US as well, its still pricy..

 

[mwzd]

However,the prices are out of the reach of the average middle class consumer who spends $4-$10 for Mobile services and is expected to pay $20-50 for broadband.

You think $20/mo. is too much for the avg or even lower middle class? You and me have been reading different demographics then.

How much do say you and four other friends spend at a barista or similar during one visit?

Most people spend upto $20 per mo. in terms of mobile bills. Those who want the net in this lot can certainly afford it.

 

[andr69]

The Netherlands take the high place. The population in this country is not high.

 

[holeinone]

You think $20/mo. is too much for the avg or even lower middle class? You and me have been reading different demographics then.

How much do say you and four other friends spend at a barista or similar during one visit?

Most people spend upto $20 per mo. in terms of mobile bills. Those who want the net in this lot can certainly afford it.

I know a lot of people who who prefer going to INternet cafes/ rather than pay INR 1000-1500 per month. It all depends on age. BTW I hated going to CDay and the likes overpriced and tasteless :D. Again my 2 cents.
The Cheapest 256/512 kbps broadband are aroung the INR 700-1200 range.Too expensive IMO.
Facts:
Users with 256 kbps has reached 4.38 million, A Coverage of <5% vs Mobile/ Home phone penetration of ~35 % (400 million)
The Main Hurdle:Lowering costs and delivering Higher speed/Bandwidth.