World Wide Web User Statistics

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There are numerous surveys trying to figure out how many people are using the Internet, when, what for, and how.
The following information was gathered from various sources on and off the 'net.

If you feel certain criteria are missing or need updating - please feel free to drop us a note.

In October 1996, an Advertising Age/Market Facts survey found that awareness of the World Wide Web and Internet skyrocketed in 1996. Of the 1,000 consumers surveyed, 82 percent said they had heard of the World Wide Web, compared with only 44.7 percent last year. The Internet, a term recognised by 82 percent last year, is now nearly ubiquitous, at 93.5 percent awareness.
In October 1996, an NNI report, 'Online & Internet Statistics Reality Check,'96,' claimed that there are only 15 million people online (encompassing the Internet, World Wide Web and commercial services), accounting for only 6 percent of the US population and 11 percent of households.
From: http://www.newnetworks.com/statsexecsum.htm
In November 1996, the RISQ (Reseau Interordinateurs Scientifique Quebecois) 'Second Internet Users Survey in Quebec (Canada),' found that the user population breaks down into 18.3 percent female and 81.7 percent male. 54 percent are between 25 and 44 years old. 50 percent of this age bracket have completed undergraduate studies.
From: http://www.risq.qc.ca/enquete/anglais/index.html
In November 1996, a survey by Louis Harris and Associates estimated that 35 million adults in the United States had used the Internet, up from 27 million at the beginning of the year. Online services like America Online Inc. and Compuserve Corp. could lay claim to almost 41 million subscribers but that remains at the same level as found in January.
In November 1996, a Forrester Research report claimed that nearly 5 million of the 25 million 18 to 24 year-olds are on-line in the United States. By 2001, more than a third of this group will be wired.
From: http://www.forrester.com/pressrel/SEP96PTP.htm
In November 1996, a Find/SVP and Jupiter Communications survey entitled 'Home Use of the Internet and Commercial Online Services,' claimed that the number of US households with Internet access more than doubled this year to 14.7 million. The survey found that users are increasingly bypassing Commercial Online Services for Internet Service Providers.
From: http://www.jup.com/jupiter/release/oct96/oct21.shtml
In November 1996, Inteco predicted that 13.5 million new households will sign up for online services in the United States within the next year. The survey of 2,660 households also suggested that online usage among households with income above 25,000 dollars has declined, from 9.8 million five months ago, to 8.7 million now, indicating a broadening of the marketplace. The total number of online households in the US is now stated to be 15.2 million.
From: http://www.inteco.com/pu961031.html
In December 1996, a PC-Meter market research study estimated that US household use of the Internet had more than doubled in 1996. The current number of households was estimated at 11 percent of all 98.7 million US households and was up from 4.4 percent (or 4.3 million) a year ago.
In December 1996, an Inteco survey entitled 'The Interactive Home Service,' stated that Internet growth is being fueled by workplace usage while the level of usage from home is leveling off. The number of adults using Internet/online services at work or school rose to 23.0 million in September 1996, up from 17.4 million in May 1996. Meanwhile, the number of individuals using Internet/online services at home only, stabilised at around 10.3 million during the same period.
From: http://www.inteco.com/pu961205.html
In June 1996, International Internet Marketing published an analysis of the May 1996 GVU survey. Findings included the facts that, 'The average age of European Web users decreased slightly during the last 6 months from 29.7 to 28.8; Europe is still behind the US as far as ending the male domination of the Internet. Whereas women make up 34.4 percent of the US Web community, the percentage is only 15.2 in Europe.'
From: http://www.clark.net/pub/granered/iim.html
In January 1997, a Gartner Group survey predicted that there would be 150 million Internet users by 1998. While in the same month, Network Wizards Internet domain survey found that there were 9,472,000 host computers, up from 6,642,000 in July 1995.
From: http://www.gartner.com/whatsnew/inettv.html
In May 1996, a Killen & Associates 'Internet: Global Penetration and Forecast 2000' survey estimated that at the beginning of 1996 there were 30,000,000 Internet users worldwide, predicting that by 2000 as many as 250,000,000 would have Internet access.
From: http://www.killen.com/studies/study.ipf.htm
In June 1996, the 'GVU WWW Fifth User Survey' results found that, 'Average age has risen again slightly to 33.0 years old. The gender ratio continues to become more balanced with 31.5 percent reporting being female, compared to 29.3 percent for the Fourth survey. Estimated average household income has dropped slightly, but remains high in general at 59,000 US dollars. US respondents represented 73.4 percent of total respondents; Europe was the next largest category with 10.8 percent.'
From: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey-04-1996/#exec
In November1996, a market study entitled 'World Online Markets,' by Jupiter Communications predicted that the number of online households worldwide will rise from 23.4 million in 1996 to 66.6 million in 2000.
The main drivers behind this growth will be the development of the European and Asian markets and increased PC penetration. Outside of the US, which will remain the leader in online households, Japan, Germany and Great Britain will be the main generators of growth.
From: http://www.jup.com/jupiter/release/nov96/market.shtml
In December1996, the 6th GVU WWW User Survey found that the average age of respondents was 34.9 years old with 68.6 percent male and 31.4 percent female. The percentage of respondents from the US increased in this survey to 82.7 percent. All locations were more gender-balanced in this survey compared to previous surveys.
From: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey-10-1996/
In April1996, a Jupiter Communications survey predicted that total online households in the US will reach 35 million by the Year 2000.
From: http://www.jup.com/jupiter/release/april96/0429.shtml
In April 1996, an I/PRO (Internet Profiles Corporation) published survey found that the majority of Web users were male (72 percent), ages 25 through 54 (73 percent) and well-off (58 percent sport a household income in excess of 50,000 US dollars).
In April 1996, a Project 2000 survey entitled 'Internet Use in the United States: 1995 Baseline' estimated that, '28.8 million people in the United States 16 and over have potential or actual access to the Internet, 16.4 million people use the Internet, 11.5 million people use the Web.'
From: http://www2000.ogsm.vanderbilt.edu/baseline/1995.Internet.estimates.html
In August 1996, a comprehensive survey by CommerceNet And Nielsen found that Internet access in the United States and Canada was up by 50 percent from August/September, 1995 (23 million estimated users) to March/April, 1996 (34 million). The survey also found that new Internet users, 'share a different profile from those reported earlier, indicating that the Internet market is widening to include a range of user types.'
From: http://www.commerce.net/work/pilot/nielsen_96/exec.html
In August 1996, InterNet Info reported that commercial domains in the United States had increased over 139 percent during the first half of 1996. As of 19th July 1996, there were 419,360 .com, 28,839 .org, 17,115 .net and 2,686 .edu domains registered.

The following 6 graphs are from the results of the GVU's 6th WWW User Survey.
Any information provided by GVU is copyright 1994-1997 by the Georgia Tech Research Corporation Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0415 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
World Distribution
Advertising
December 16, 1996
The Internet Advertising Bureau announced results of its Advertising Revenue Reporting Program.
According to the survey, Internet advertising spending has grown over the first three quarters of 96. Total spending in the first quarter was $29,900,000, $51,900,000 in the second quarter and $75,600,000 in the third quarter.
Data represents revenue from over 200 Internet publishers, with 85% of the firms reporting revenues directly to the program and the remaining 15% derived as estimates from public information sources. The IAB has also issued voluntary guidelines for banner advertising, developed in conjunction with CASIE, a joint task force of the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies. According to Mike Donahue, svp of the AAAA, "The proliferation of banners has created a massive problem for advertisers and their agencies, which sometimes have to create their ads in 50 or more sizes. These voluntary guidelines will greatly streamline the advertising production and placement process and contribute to the overall growth of Internet advertising."