World's internet population to pass 2bn, says report

Having doubled over the past five years, the global internet population is now set to pass the 2-billion mark this year, according to the latest report from the International Telecommunication Union.

The number of people with access to the web at home is projected to increase from 1.4 billion in 2009 to almost 1.6 billion in 2010.

Released on Tuesday, the study revealed that of 226 million new internet users this year, 162 million will come from developing countries. By the end of 2010, 71 percent of the population in developed countries will be online compared to 21 percent in developing countries.

While 65 percent of people in developed countries have access to the internet at home, only 13.5 percent in developing countries enjoy the same home access. Web connectivity in schools, at work and in public locations remains critical in these markets, the report said.

For more on this ZDNet UK-selected story, see World's Internet population to surpass 2B mark on ZDNet Asia.