Internet Population to Max Out at 80% of Population, 75% of Households Ben Macklin, Senior Analyst with eMarketer, explains that as the online population matures, the remaining offline
population consists of those least likely to feel the need to use the Internet. He says that since surveys show that those who currently do not use the Internet say that they have no compelling need
to do so, it seems apparent that Internet penetration will peak at 75% to 80% of the US population.
A recent UCLA survey shows that not having a computer continues to be the primary reason for
not being online, but those who have no interest getting online follow closely behind.
Reasons the Americans Do Not Go Online, 2002 (% respondents who do not use the Internet)
No
computer 28.5% No interest 23.0% Don't know how to use 15.4% Too expensive 9.6% Fear of technology 2.6% Privacy/security issues .8% Not appropriate
for children 1.4% Computer not good enough 3.4% Consumes too much time 3.6%
Source: UCLA Center for Communication Policy, Feb 2002 The Yankee Group predicts
continued PC growth over the next five years so that 84 million, or three-quarters of all households, will have a PC by 2007.
US PC Households (% of total households)
- 2000
62.8%
- 2001 65.3
- 2002 67.6
- 2003 69.6
- 2004 71.3
- 2005 72.7
- 2006 73.8
- 2007 74.5
Source: Yankee Group Nov
2002 According to Banc of America Securities' estimates, average selling prices for PCs fell by 7.2% in 2000 in the US, and another 3.7% in 2001. Since there is a strong correlation between
income and PC ownership and, likewise, a strong correlation between PC ownership and Internet access, the fact that PC prices are falling is helping bridge the digital divide.
Average Selling
Price of a PC in the US
- 2001 $1,317
- 2002 1,394
- 2003 1,355
- 2004 1,293
- 2005 1,227
- 2006 1,164
Source:
Gartner Dataquest 2002 You can find out more here.