Latest internet stats

[mole]

Looks like we’ve almost reached the end of the Internet. At least as far and access growth is concerned. A report released earlier today found that a total of 553 million people worldwide now have Internet access from home, marking a relatively flat 4% growth rate as compared to the previous quarter.

According to Nielsen//NetRatings’ Global Internet Trends report, globally, the number of people with access to the Internet via a home PC increased from 531 million people in Q1, 2002 to 553 million in Q2 2002. Naturally, the US has the largest Internet population, accounting for 30% of the global access universe, followed by Europe with 24%, Asia & Pacific with 14%, and Latin America with 3%. Markets not under Nielsen//NetRatings measurement accounted for the remaining 29%.

"The vast majority of the world's Internet audience is still centered in the major Internet markets measured by Nielsen//NetRatings," said Lisa Strand, director and chief analyst, Nielsen//NetRatings. "Of the countries covered in this report, the US (166.4 million), Germany (32.6 million), the United Kingdom (29 million) and Italy (22.7 million) have the largest number of people with Internet access via a home PC. Combined, these countries account for almost half of the total Internet audience worldwide."

eCommerce is also gaining momentum in many countries, as the adult population increasingly browsed for and purchased products online in the past six months. Sweden has experienced particularly strong growth - an additional 2% browsed for products while 4% more purchased this quarter than in Q1, 2002.

The report also found that two thirds of the Internet audience in Hong Kong uses either a cable modem or a high-speed telephone connection to access the Internet, dwarfing the rate at which surfers in 10 other major Internet markets have adopted high-speed access.

The growth rate for broadband use in the US is down from 2001, due to the comparably high subscription prices, lack of compelling content and limited geographic accessibility, the report says. But, nearly 10% of active broadband users in the US are in the New York area, a location similar to the dense, urban setting of Hong Kong."

Interestingly enough, despite its high connection speeds, Hong Kong has one of the lowest rates for purchasing online, measuring at the same level as Brazil, Italy, and Spain. So if it’s speed you’re after, try advertising in Hong Kong, but don’t expect anybody to buy anything.

In Hong Kong, it is cheaper using broadband if you are surfing internet more than 3 to 4 hours per day.
Hong Kong people don't have much mail order and TV commercial with phone order purchasing habit, most of the stuff they needed could be purchased almost within walkable distance for most Hong Kong people.
I suspect the report did not include how much domains Yun Ye had purchased online (joke, cause it won't make any difference).