EMarketer finds Internet population increased nearly 20 percent in 2001, and over 700 million users are projected by 2004 - Market Intelligence

Information Superhighways Newsletter, Feb, 2002

Despite the events of September 11th and the global economic downturn, the number of Internet users worldwide will rise from 445.9 million in 2001 to 709.1 million in 2004, according to a new eMarketer report, eGlobal: Demographics and Usage.

"The recession hasn't stanched the desire to stay in touch. If anything, the events of 9/11 highlighted the value of e-mail and instant messaging applications," said Dr. Nevin Cohen, eMarketer analyst. "More people, from more places around the world, are communicating with one another and accessing information quickly, easily and economically. Why? Because now, with the Internet, they can."

According to the eGlobal Report, while growth in the most advanced markets is slowing, the largest increases in new Internet users are coming from regions that have been laggards. The number of users in Latin America will grow by an annual rate of nearly 40 percent between 2000 and 2004, while North America, with a saturated market, will experience a comparatively tepid growth rate of 14.3 percent.

The eGlobal Report confirms that as the Internet user population swells, it more closely mirrors the demographic characteristics of the population at large. "Marketing professionals should note that Internet users are no longer the stereotypical early adopters, young, educated, well-to-do, computer nerds," said Cohen. "Increasing numbers of minorities, elderly and working-class people are now online."

The eGlobal Report, which costs $795, features over 200 tables and graphs, and provides detailed data on the G-7 countries where 60 percent of the world's Internet users reside. The report also examines the growth of the global Internet infrastructure, access methods around the world and the growth of alternative net access methods like Web TV and mobile phone access. It contains aggregated data and analysis from a wide range of sources, including the International Telecommunication Union, the World Bank, Euro RSCG Worldwide and the OECD.