European Internet Penetration Forecasts From Forrester
The penetration of regular internet use in Europe is now 39%, although half of these users are aged 35 or less, according to a new report from Forrester Research.
Nevertheless, European online access has grown from a 19% penetration of adults aged 16 or over in 1999 to 39%, or 116 million consumers in 2001. This growth has outperformed Forrester’s earlier predictions. The company is now forecasting that the penetration of regular users across Europe will reach 67% by 2006 – just under 200 million people.
| European internet penetration (regular users) | ||
| Penetration (%) | Number of users (million) | |
| 1999A | 19 | 57 |
| 2001A | 39 | 116 |
| 2006F | 67 | 199 |
| Source: Forrester Research, April 2002 | ||
Germany will lead this growth with 70% of its population, or 48.5 million people, as regular users by 2006. France and Italy will show the biggest increase in new, regular online consumers – more than 30 million new users in the next five years – and will account together for more than 40 percent of all new online consumers.
Italy will see the most rapid growth, reaching 68% penetration, or 33.1 million regular users, by 2006. The UK will come a close third, achieving 68% penetration or 32.8 million regular users. Growth in France will be marginally slower, with just 64% penetration, or 31.3 million users, in 2006. Scandinavia will reach at 70% from 2003 onwards.
Regional discrepancies Development of web use in France, Italy and Spain continues to lag behind overall European online adoption, with penetration rates at around 30% presently. The Nordic markets continue to lead the way with access levels between 60% and 70%.
In terms of gross numbers, most European Net users connect from Germany and the UK. Germany has more than 30 million online users, whilst UK has about 20 million.
Half of all Europeans have access to the internet in some way and at some location, but only three-quarters use it on a regular basis, says Forrester. Most regular users connect from home – only 13 percent of online users have access from work alone.