56 per cent of Britons regular Net users

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 30 Sep 2003 at 17:21

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show 56 per cent of adults in Great Britain had used the Internet in the past three months.

The figures also pull the number of households with Internet access up to 12 million (48 per cent), a figure that has grown fivefold in as many years.

While 56 per cent of the population of Great Britain had logged on in the past three months, roughly 44 had done so within the last seven days. And nearly half of all men did so every day or almost every day compared with 35 per cent of women.

Net usage also varies according to age, with 85 per cent of 18 - 24 year-olds having connected during the last three months, dropping to just 39 per cent for those aged between 55 and 64.

Top reasons for using the Net remain email and searching for goods and services, with the number one purchase being travel, accommodation or holidays.

Of those who don't use the Internet, 57 per cent say they have no interest in doing so.