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Press Release
694 Million People Currently Use the Internet Worldwide According To
comScore Networks
694 Million People Currently Use the
Internet Worldwide According To comScore Networks
comScore Announces New Worldwide
Online Universe Estimate Based on the World’s Largest, Most Representative
Sample and Most Robust Methodology
Estimate Marks a Major Step Forward
for Marketers and Media Properties around the World
RESTON,
VA, May 4, 2006 – comScore
Networks today announced the launch of comScore World Metrix, the first true estimate of global
online audience size and behavior based on activity from the world’s largest
online behavioral research panel. The comScore World Metrix panel has active
representation from countries that comprise 99 percent of the global Internet
population. In launching
comScore World Metrix, the company announced that 694 million people, age 15+,
used the Internet worldwide from all locations in March 2006, representing 14
percent of the world’s total population within this age group. This number marks the first worldwide
universe estimate based on a consistent methodology across all countries.
Notably, comScore World Metrix includes measurement of
the major Asian countries, including China, Japan, India and Korea, which
represent nearly 25 percent of the total worldwide online population (or 168.1
million users), and which, in the aggregate, are 11 percent larger than the
U.S. (152 million users).
“Today, the
online audience in the U.S. represents less than a quarter of Internet users
across the globe, versus ten years ago when it accounted for two-thirds of
the global audience,” said Peter Daboll, president and CEO of comScore Media
Metrix. “This is a sea change of
enormous proportion, and comScore is pleased to be able to provide measurement
to aid the world’s largest marketers in understanding how the world uses the Internet.”
“Previously,
MSN has attempted to harmonize disparate sources of data to get a global
view. The fact that comScore World Metrix data are produced with a
consistent methodology worldwide will make a significant
difference, enabling us to analyze what is happening globally and truly
understand consumer online behavior,” said Chris Dobson, vice president of
sales, MSN International. “This is a significant step forward for the industry
and timed perfectly as the importance of markets outside the U.S. grows,
especially rapidly developing countries like China and India, which up to now
have not enjoyed such insight.”
Top 15 Online Populations by
Country, Among Visitors Age 15+*
March 2006
Total Worldwide – All Locations
Unique Visitors (000)
Source: comScore World Metrix
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Unique Visitors
(000)
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Worldwide Total
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694,260
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United States
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152,046
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China
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74,727
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Japan
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52,100
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Germany
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31,813
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United Kingdom
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30,190
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South Korea
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24,645
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France
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23,884
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Canada
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18,996
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Italy
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16,834
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India
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16,713
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Brazil
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13,186
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Spain
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12,452
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Netherlands
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10,969
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Russia
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10,833
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Australia
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9,735
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* Excludes
traffic from public computers such as Internet cafe and, access from mobile
phones or PDAs.
Israel,
Finland and South Korea Lead the World in Online Engagement
comScore also released the top 15 countries ranked by
average hours spent online per visitor for March 2006, as a measure of
engagement. Israel led the list, with
the average user spending 57.5 hours online during the month – twice as much
time compared to the average person in the U.S, which did not rank in the top
15 countries. Rounding out the top 5 were Finland, South Korea, the
Netherlands and Taiwan – all countries with high broadband penetration.
“comScore World Metrix data show high levels of
engagement in countries outside the U.S.
In fact, the U.S. does not even make the top 15 country list in terms of
hours per user per month,” said Mr. Daboll. “These high engagement levels
demonstrate the importance of global measurement and underscore the fact that
the Web is certainly not just a U.S. phenomenon.”
Top 15 Countries by Average Monthly
Hours Online per Unique Visitor
Among Visitors Age 15+*
March 2006
Total Worldwide – All Locations
Source: comScore World Metrix
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Avg. Hours per Visitor March-06
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Worldwide
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31.3
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Israel
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57.5
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Finland
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49.3
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South Korea
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47.2
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Netherlands
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43.5
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Taiwan
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43.2
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Sweden
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41.4
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Brazil
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41.2
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Hong Kong
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41.2
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Portugal
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39.8
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Canada
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38.4
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Germany
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37.2
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Denmark
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36.8
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France
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36.8
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Norway
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35.4
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Venezuela
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35.3
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* Excludes
traffic from public computers such as internet cafes or access from mobile
phones or PDAs.
Top Global
Properties
comScore also issued a sneak preview of the top 15
media properties worldwide, with MSN- Microsoft Sites topping the list with
538.6 million global users, followed by Google (495.8 million users), and
Yahoo! (480.2 million users). Yahoo! Sites led all global properties in page
views with 137.2 billion page views during March, followed by Google (108.7
billion page views), and MSN- Microsoft Sites (96.2 billion page views).
comScore will officially begin releasing World Metrix statistics with the
issuance of May data in June.
“While the “big three” properties remain consistent
among worldwide and U.S. audiences, Wikipedia has emerged as a site that
continues to increase in popularity, both globally and in the U.S. Wikipedia’s popularity demonstrates the
global power of the Web to unite and provide information across countries and
languages, but the full extent of its global appeal is only measurable through
this new worldwide measurement,” Mr. Daboll commented.
Top 15 Online Properties Worldwide, Among Visitors Age 15+*
March 2006
Total Worldwide – All Locations
Source: comScore World Metrix
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Unique Visitors
(000)
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Worldwide Total
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694,260
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MSN-Microsoft Sites
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538,578
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Google Sites
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495,788
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Yahoo! Sites
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480,228
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eBay
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269,690
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Time Warner Network
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241,525
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Amazon Sites
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154,640
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Wikipedia Sites
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131,949
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Ask Network
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127,377
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Adobe Sites
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115,774
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Lycos, Inc.
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109,394
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CNET Networks
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107,589
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Apple Computer, Inc.
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98,622
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Real.com Network
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78,104
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Monster Worldwide
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74,152
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Wanadoo Sites
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73,446
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*
Excludes traffic from public computers
such as internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.
Companies interested in obtaining information about
comScore World Metrix services should call (866) 276-6972.
About comScore Networks
comScore
Networks provides unparalleled insight into consumer behavior and attitudes.
This capability is based on a massive, global cross-section of more than 2
million consumers who have given comScore explicit permission to confidentially
capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline
purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that
captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Through its proprietary
technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of behavior
and attitudes. comScore consultants
apply this deep knowledge of customers and competitors to help clients design
powerful marketing strategies and tactics that deliver superior ROI. comScore services are used by global leaders
such as AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Verizon, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of
America, Tribune Interactive, ESPN, Fox Sports, Nestlé, MBNA, Universal McCann,
the United States Postal Service, Merck and Expedia. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com.
Contact: Andrew Lipsman comScore Networks (312) 775-6510 press@comscore.com
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