Worldwide Internet access inches up

The number of people worldwide with Internet access via a home PC grew slightly from 580 million people in Q4 of last year to 585 million in Q1 of this year, Nielsen/NetRatings reports. The U.S. leads with the largest Internet population, accounting for 30% of global Internet access, followed by Europe with 24%, Asia Pacific with 13% and Latin America with 2%.

Sweden, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Australia continue to be the most mature Internet markets in web usage. 57% or more of households in each of those markets have access to the Internet via a home PC; 64% or more have a home PC; and 80% of home users have high-speed Internet connections.

Brazil displays enormous potential for future growth where an additional 21% of households with telephones plan to acquire Internet access in the next 12 months, Nielsen/NetRatings reports.