Almost 10 per cent of the world's population now have Internet access although the digital divide continues to widen, a new report says.
The global Internet audience had risen to 580 million - an increase of more than 173 million since December 2000, according to the latest Global Internet Trends report on Internet access and penetration from Nua, the Irish-based Internet analyst company.
The study shows that for the first time, Europe, with 185 million users, has the highest number of people using the Internet. There are 182 million US users in North America and 167 million in Asia.
In a clear indication the digital divide between developed and developing nations continues to widen, only 8 per cent of users are based in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa combined.
Iceland has the highest rate of Internet penetration with just under 70 per cent of its population having access to the Net. Sweden is in second place with 64 per cent, followed by Denmark, Hong Kong, and the United States.
Close to 1.3 million people - or just over 33 per cent - of people in the Republic now access to the Internet, up from 20 per cent two years ago.
