From this Danwei.org post, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that China now likely has the most Internet users in the world, according to statistics from BDA, a consultancy specializing in China's telecommunications, media, and technology sectors. BDA estimates that China has as many as 228.5 million Internet users, compared with 217.1 million in the U.S. As a sign of growth to come, it's interesting to note that Internet usage penetration in China, according to CNNIC's latest figures, is only about 15%. [Usage penetration in the U.S. is about 70%.]
For more statistics on the Internet in China, check out CNNIC's biannual reports in English or Chinese.
Adam Schokora @ Edelman Digital (China)
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Comments (2)
At 210 million the Economist gave a slightly lower number of Chinese internet users. Although this was up by 50 percent on the previous year.
Other interesting points from the article:
* The proportion of the total population using the Chinese internet is still low at 16 percent. This rise is expected to continue for some time surpassing the US in the process.
* More than 70 percent of Chinese internet users are under 30 years of age.
* The distribution of pirated films is a primary use of the internet in China.
* The mobile web is huge in China. With half a billion mobile phone users, China has more subscribers than America, Japan, Germany and Britain combined.
* Online multiplayer subscription games are popular. Probably due to low take-up of large console makers’ (Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo) products.
It's a different universe to the internet we in the Western world know. Mind blowing.
So much potential too.
Posted by Stephen Davies | March 25, 2008 5:04 PM
Posted on March 25, 2008 17:04
Stephen, thanks for sharing....all good info.
Despite the Economist's figures and even the official CNNIC numbers, many who pay close attention to the Internet in China (myself including) feel there are likely far more than the reported 230 million or so regular users...staggering either way. The next 10 years of the Internet in China will be very interesting.
Posted by Adam Schokora | March 26, 2008 11:38 PM
Posted on March 26, 2008 23:38