With 402 mn internet users in India to surpass US by Dec 15

New Delhi: India is expected to be the second biggest internet user base in the world by December 2015. The number of internet users in India is set to touch 402 million mark, surpassing the US according to a report published by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International on Tuesday.

This will make India the first free market democratic setup to have over 400 million users, surpassing the US with 280 million active users. China remains the leader of the market with 600 million internet users. India took over a decade to reach the 10 million users mark from 100 users as per the report. Although, within three years it reached the 100 to 200 million marks.

Demographics of internet users in India

The report also presents a gender segregated data, where, 71 percent of the internet users in India are males and 29 percent females. However, particularity in the urban area, the ratio of male to female Internet users stands at 62 to 38. The report also mentions a significant growth in women internet user base.

The rural India is seeing a boom in the internet use as the report suggests the total number of users are expected to touch 87 million by December 2015.

The smartphone penetration in the rural landscape has made sure that the user-base for the rural region will be on the upside with total number reaching 109 million by June 2016.

The report also shows data of a survey conducted for user expectancy growth, which reveals the willingness of people to use the internet. The non-internet users' survey in 35 cities as part of this study, showed, 11.4 million non-users are eager to use the internet in the next one year and over 2/3rd of them aim to do so over mobile phones.

For more up to date internet statistics for the year 2019 check out the following article: Key Internet Statistics 2019

This rise is expected to benefit users as well economy as people becoming aware of the assistances of internet and e-commerce, there is great potential for growth. The IAMAI-IMRB survey was conducted across 35 cities with more than one million population.