Economy

Markets

Industries

Insights

Reports

Events

China's Internet users hit 221m, rank world's first

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-24 11:50

Netizens are surfing the net on March 15 at an Internet bar in Yichang, Hubei Province. Chinese Internet users hit 221 million by February this year.[Asianewsphoto]

The Internet population in China reached 221 million by the end of February, which outnumbered the figure in the United States to rank the first in the world, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information.

Related readings: China becomes world's No. 1 in number of Internet users Commentary: Internet exposure shifts balance of power Internet travel to grow by 70% Internet consumption expected to rise 45.8% in 2008 China's Internet market to hit 164b yuan in 2008

The number was 210 million by the end of last year, only 5 million fewer than the US Internet users then, according to the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC).

Despite rapidly increasing Internet population, the proportion of Internet users among the total population was still lower than the global average level, the ministry said, without giving specific figures.

The proportion was 16 percent at the end of 2007, compared with 19.1 percent of the world average, the CNNIC said.