20 Aug 2007 | Anne Tucker

Online Usage Round-Up Q2 2007: Internet Usage Breaks 30 Million Mark

The number of internet users now stands at nearly 30.2 million, according to figures released by BMRB for the second quarter of 2007.

As internet usage broke the 30 million mark for the first time, growth of 9.2% could be observed over the same period last year.

The total number of people going online is now over five million more than it was two years ago.

Usage Location

Numbers of both home and work internet users have grown at a healthy rate year on year for Q2 2007, with both increasing at over 11% each.

Compared to the same period in 2005, home users have risen by over six million in the UK.

Internet Users By Location
(millions)	2nd Qtr 05	2nd Qtr 06	2nd Qtr 07	YoY % Change Q205 – Q206	YoY % Change Q206 – Q207
All users	24.625	27.659	30.196	12.3	9.2
Work users	8.413	9.459	10.581	12.4	11.9
Home users	22.167	25.414	28.215	14.6	11.0
Academic users	3.356	3.487	3.720	3.9	6.7

Gender

Female internet usage has improved by 11.5% for the second quarter 2007 versus the same period last year, with the gap between male and female usage closing.

Men continue to be the dominant users of the web although their growth has slowed recently, ending Q2 2007 with a year on year growth rate of 7.2%, compared to 10.2% for the previous year.

Internet Users By Gender
(millions)	2nd Qtr 05	2nd Qtr 06	2nd Qtr 07	YoY % Change Q205 – Q206	YoY % Change Q206 – Q207
Male	13.29	14.65	15.70	10.2	7.2
Female	11.32	12.99	14.49	14.8	11.5

Age

Looking at different age breakdowns, the strongest growth can be seen in the 65+ age group, which has seen an increase in users of 10.4% year on year.

The 35-44 age group are the most predominant users, accounting for just under seven million users.

Internet Users By Age
(millions)	2nd Qtr 05	2nd Qtr 06	2nd Qtr 07	YoY % Change Q205 – Q206	YoY % Change Q206 – Q207
15-24	5.41	5.80	6.34	7.2	9.3
25-34	5.17	5.53	6.04	7.0	9.2
35-44	5.66	6.36	6.95	12.4	9.3
45-54	4.18	4.70	5.13	12.4	9.1
55-64	2.70	3.31	3.62	22.6	9.4
65+	1.47	1.93	2.13	31.3	10.4

Social Grade

There are now 19.6 million ABC1 internet users in the UK, according to BMRB, an increase of 9.2% year on year for Q2 2007.

Similar growth can be seen in the C2DE grouping, which now includes 10.8 million internet users.

Internet Users By Social Grade
(millions)	2nd Qtr 05	2nd Qtr 06	2nd Qtr 07	YoY % Change Q205 – Q206	YoY % Change Q206 – Q207
AB	8.37	8.85	9.66	5.7	9.2
C1	8.37	9.12	9.96	9.0	9.2
C2	4.43	5.25	5.74	18.5	9.3
DE	3.44	4.42	4.83	28.5	9.3