GfK Finds Varying EU Internet Uptake and Use

The total number of EU Internet users has risen by 14 percent in the last 6 months according to gfk-webgauge from GfK. This autumn, 88.9 million consumers in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK are believed to have gone online at least once a month. This compares to just 77.7 million users last spring.

The new GfK research also shows that the rate of growth across the six European countries differs greatly. In Belgium, Germany and the UK, the number of Internet users continued to rise at the same rate. In the Netherlands the number evened out at a high level, and in Spain it remained at a relatively low but steady level. In France, too, the increase in Internet users was comparatively restrained.

GfK suggests these findings show that the development of Internet usage in Europe has lost some of its initial momentum. Arguably, the individual markets are continuing to develop at varying rates as well, while the user patterns are evolving in the same way in all countries with regard to age, level of education and career profile. Despite these basic similarities, the intensity and type of Internet use differs considerably from country to country.

The product range of gfk-webgauge includes short reports in table form and a European report which is available from GfK Medienforschung.

For further information, visit www.gfk.com

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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