Internet usage has dramatically risen since the dawn of Yahoo in 1995. According to an infographic, from less than one percent, internet users rose to almost 2 billion to date, accounting 21.5 percent of the world’s population. At the moment, the top 3 websites that dominate the internet, in order, are Google.com, Facebook.com and Youtube.com. Continent-wise, Asia has the most number of internet users with 825 million, next is Europe with 475 million, then North America with 266 million.

In terms of number of internet users by country, UK is number one with 536 million or 27.3 percent of the total number of internet users, followed by China with 445 million or 22.6 percent and then by Spain with 153 million or 7.8 percent. As to IP traffic per internet user by GB per month, South Korea tops the chart with 25 gigabyte, followed equally by United States and France with 14 gigabyte, and then Germany with 13 gigabyte.

The United States is the most internet-centric country in the world, with a penetration rate of 94.45 percent in residential premises and 98.76 percent in offices. The worldwide broadband generates an average traffic equal to 11.4 gigabyte per month which is equivalent to 3000 email or 100 mp3s per day. As to download speed, Korea is the title holder with 36 mbps, followed by Lithuania with 29 mbps and third, Latvia with 25 mbps. The United States and United Kingdom is all the way down to 30th and 31st place.

Undoubtedly, the number of internet users is surging and different entities are making efforts to make it better. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for example, is conducting a broadband test to better internet connectivity in the US, as well as decided to deploy some 10,000 free wireless N-Routers. Google’s also conducting some sort of social experiment by running a broadband connection in Kansas City that is 100-fold faster than the average internet connection. It’s unclear though whether Google’s planning to become an internet service provider to compete with AT&T, Verizon and others. And here’s also a good look of how the internet’s global map will look like comparing today and in the future.