Chinese netizens spend 137.8 minutes online per day, report

China's internet users surf online for an average of 137.8 minutes per day. The 2006 Report on Netizen's Internet Usage in Chinese Cities was recently issued by CTR, a leading market research company. It makes a full analysis of current conditions and development trends in areas including media, advertising and consumption.

The report found that internet usage has grown tremendously since 2001. Of the 36 cities surveyed for the report, approximately 11 percent of the population went online in 2000. Six years, later this percentage has increased to 38 percent. The number of internet users overall has quintupled. The amount internet users are spending online daily is also increasing rapidly. It went from 88.5 minutes in 2002 to 137.8 minutes in 2006, an increase of 56 percent. The internet has already become one of the most important communication mediums. Based on this trend, it seems likely that in 2007, Chinese people will spend more time surfing online than they will watching TV in 2007.

Among the central audience --groups aged between 25 and 45, have at least three years of college education and a personal monthly income no less than 2,000 yuan--the daily reachable percent of internet soared from 38.7 percent in 2001 to 71.7 percent, making it the third largest media outlet behind TV and newspapers.

By People's Daily Online