The worldwide online population will increase from 1.1 billion users in 2006 to 1.5 billion in 2011, representing 22 percent of the overall worldwide population in that year. Outlined in a new report “Worldwide Online Population Forecast, 2006 to 2011: Emerging Economies Catalyze Future Growth,” Brazil, Russia, India, and China will provide impetus for future growth of the online population.

The rapid expansion of Internet access in the US, Canada, Japan, and Western Europe during the past decade has produced largely mature online populations in those countries and, as a result, they will witness comparatively slower Internet growth rates through 2011. According to the report, North America’s share of the worldwide online population is expected to erode from 21 percent in 2006 to 17 percent in 2011.

“China and India, given their large population base will provide the most substantial push to the worldwide online population,” explained Vikram Sehgal, Research Director at JupiterResearch. “In these countries, increased infrastructure development and relatively higher purchasing power from rapid growth of gross domestic product will coincide with increased consumer adoption of the Internet through 2011.”
Online penetration will remain the highest in North America, measuring 76 percent by 2011. Western Europe, according to the study, is expected to mirror that penetration rate.

“The Internet has clearly changed the way we have done business in the past decade – and by all indications, it will serve as the centerpiece of what is to become a truly global economy,” said David Schatsky, President of JupiterResearch. ”Recognizing where the most substantial growth is expected to take place could result in a tremendous opportunity.”