Persistent Male Majority on 'Net in Europe

Women make up only 42% of the European online population, according to the latest research from Nielsen//NetRatings. The proportion is growing but only slowly, and if current trends continue it will be nearly a decade before parity is reached.

In May 2003 there were 35 million European women surfers - 42% of the total online population versus 41% last year. This is in strong contrast with America where 51% of surfers are female.

The proportion of female Internet users varies from 37.5% (and falling) in Italy to 47% in Sweden. The UK has the second highest percentage of women surfers among Western European nations.

'Getting more women online matters', according to Nielsen//NetRatings European Market Analyst Tom Ewing, 'because there is still the perception of the Internet as a very male-dominated place... Changes are taking place but it's a very slow process in some markets...What's interesting is how well specialised, and practical sites do - shopping or local guides, for instance - whereas portals specifically designed for women have a much lower profile'.

Women as a Percentage of total Audience in European Markets, May 2003

Source: Nielsen//NetRatings at home data, May 2003

Sites that tend to attract female surfers include shopping, travel, education, finance and health and beauty sites. Next, M&S and others attract around a quarter of a million female visitors each, and the majority of their visitors are women.

Top Women's Sites in the UK, by composition, May 2003

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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