China’s Internet Users Exceed U.S.
By Anna Johnson on July 28th, 2008The number of Internet users in China was estimated to have reached 253 million last month, placing China ahead of the United States as the world’s biggest Internet market.
Based on a national phone survey conducted by the China Internet Network Information Center in Beijing, the estimate indicates that Internet users increased by over 50 percent – or about 90 million people – in 2007. Yet, this number still represents just 19 percent of China’s population, indicating room for plenty more growth. About 70 percent or approximately 220 million Americans are online.
The Chinese Government heavily regulates Internet access within China, actively preventing access to sites it deems unsuitable. But that certainly isn’t deterring the population from using those parts of the Internet it can access!
Source: David Barboza, “China Surpasses U.S. in Number of Internet Users”, The New York Times, July 26, 2008
