In an interesting revelation over at USA today China have surpassed USA as the country with the most internet users in the world.
The number of Chinese on the Internet hit more than 220 million as of February, according to estimates from official Chinese statistics by the Beijing-based research group BDA China.
The longtime Internet leader, the USA, had 216 million users at the end of 2007, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. Due to its huge population – estimated at 1.3 billion people – China, has a higher growth rate, says BDA’s chairman, Duncan Clark. By the end of March, for example, Chinese users climbed to 233 million.
Clark says the rapid growth is powered in part by China’s economic boom. While the government “continues to filter the Net and encourage self-censorship, it also has a mandate to promote cheaper technology and the knowledge economy.”
Popularity: 27% [?]