According to the Chinese government, the number of Internet users has exceeded 1.1 billion, and the Internet penetration rate has reached more than 78.6%

1. Surprise! There are 1.1 billion Internet users in China  

Recently, a piece of news has made waves in the online world: the number of Chinese netizens has exceeded 1.1 billion! This number, like a bombshell, instantly attracted the attention of countless people.

What kind of development trajectory is hidden behind such a huge group of netizens? What are the ups and downs of the growth rate of netizens in different periods? Next, let’s delve into the secrets behind the changes in the number of Chinese netizens.

2. The mystery of the ups and downs of the number of netizens from 2000 to 2024  

(1) Data presentation  

In order to give a clearer picture of the development of the number of Internet users in China, we might as well use a table to visualize the relevant data from 2000 to 2024.   

(2) Segmented comparison  

If we take a closer look at this table, we can see that there are significant differences in the number of Internet users in different periods.

In the five years from 2000 to 2005, the number of Internet users increased from 22 million to 111 million, an increase of 89 million, and Internet penetration increased from 1.8% to 8.5%.

During this period, the Internet was just starting out in China, and although the growth rate was not fast compared to later, it was an important stage from scratch, laying the foundation for subsequent development.

Between 2005 and 2010, the number of Internet users soared from 111 million to 457 million, an increase of 346 million, and the penetration rate jumped to 34.3%.

At this stage, the Internet spread rapidly in China, and major Internet companies rose one after another, providing a variety of network services, attracting a large number of users to join the army of netizens.

Looking at 2015-2020, it was another period of rapid growth. The number of Internet users increased by 301 million from 688 million to 989 million, and the penetration rate reached 70.4%.

During this period, the development of the mobile Internet was in full swing, and the popularity of smartphones made it more convenient to access the Internet and access the Internet anytime and anywhere.

The comprehensive coverage of 4G networks has provided strong support for the explosion of various mobile applications, and applications such as short videos, mobile payments, and online shopping have sprung up, greatly enriching people’s lives and prompting more people to become netizens.

However, by 2020-2024, there have been some changes in the rate of growth.

Although the number of Internet users has increased from 989 million to 1.108 billion, it has continued to grow, but it has only increased by 119 million, which is significantly slower than the previous rapid growth. What is the reason behind this? Let’s find out below.

3. Who is the mysterious driving force behind the rapid growth?  

(1) Analysis of China’s special factors  

What is the reason for such a rapid increase in Chinese Internet users at certain times? There are a number of special factors behind this.

A thriving economy is key.

From 2005 to 2020, China’s GDP soared from 18.73 trillion yuan to 101.6 trillion yuan, per capita disposable income increased significantly, people’s spending power became stronger, Internet access equipment became popular, computers became a must-have for families, and everyone had a smartphone.

The stable and rapid development of the economy has also provided space for the development of the Internet industry. Taking e-commerce as an example, e-commerce just started in 2005, and the turnover of Tmall Double 11 in 2020 reached 498.2 billion yuan, and platforms such as JD.com and Pinduoduo also flourished, driving the prosperity of the e-commerce ecosystem.

As a result, Internet companies continue to innovate and launch rich applications such as social networking, short video, online education, and remote office, which stimulate people’s demand for access to the Internet and promote the growth of Internet users.

Policy support also provides a strong guarantee for the development of the Internet.

In 2013, the “Broadband China” strategy was implemented, and the government invested more than 1.2 trillion yuan in network infrastructure. By the end of 2020, more than 93% of the country’s optical fiber broadband users and 89.9% of broadband users with access rates of 100 megabits or more will be used, improving the problem of Internet access in remote rural areas.

In 2015, the state put forward the network poverty alleviation plan, investing more than 100 billion yuan in special funds, and by the end of 2020, the proportion of poor villages in the country connected to optical fiber increased from less than 70% to 99%, and the online retail sales of poor counties increased from 18 billion yuan in 2014 to nearly 500 billion yuan in 2020.

The state has also introduced a series of industrial policies, from tax incentives to financial support, to promote the development of the Internet industry in an all-round way, attract capital influx, promote the prosperity of the industry, and allow more people to join the ranks of netizens because of the convenience of the Internet.

Mobile Internet access is equally important.

From 2010 to 2020, the annual domestic sales of smartphones increased from less than 50 million units to more than 400 million units, and the Internet became the norm anytime, anywhere. By the end of 2020, there were 3.45 million mobile applications in China, meeting people’s diverse needs for social networking and entertainment.

In 2020, the scale of mobile payment transactions reached 527 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 22.7%, further promoting the integration of the Internet into daily life.

(2) Circumstantial evidence of data in India  

To better understand the role of these particular factors, let’s look at the situation in India. As a developing country with a population similar to that of the Chinese, India’s growth in the number of Internet users has also attracted attention.

According to data, in the year and a half from 2017 to 2018, India’s internet penetration rate increased by 33%, and the number of users grew from 420 million to 560 million.

Between 2016 and 2018, the number of Internet connections in India increased by 17% over the past year, with 220 million new Internet links added over the past two years.

India is expected to have 900 million active internet users by 2025, and the number of Internet users in India is expected to grow by 45% from 2020 to 2025.

The period of rapid growth in the number of Internet users in India has similarities with China.

In terms of economy, India’s economy has also continued to develop in recent years, people’s living standards have improved, and more and more people have the ability to buy mobile phones and other Internet equipment.

In terms of technology popularization, India has vigorously promoted the construction of network infrastructure, reduced network tariffs, and enabled more people to access the Internet. At the same time, the rapid popularity of smartphones in the Indian market has also provided a hardware foundation for the growth of Internet users.

This shows that factors such as economic development, Internet infrastructure construction, and the popularization of mobile Internet have played an important role in promoting the growth of the number of Internet users in developing countries.

In China, these factors also play a huge role, contributing to the rapid growth of the number of Chinese Internet users at a given time.

Fourth, the slowdown in growth is a bottleneck or another hidden story?  

(1) Reference from foreign experience  

When looking at the slowdown in the growth of Internet users in China, we might as well look abroad to see if other countries have seen similar situations in the development of the Internet.

As the birthplace of the Internet, the number of Internet users in the United States grew rapidly in the early days of Internet popularization.

Between 1995 and 2005, the number of Internet users in the United States surged from less than 50 million to more than 200 million, a more than threefold increase in a decade. But over time, the rate of growth has slowed down. As of 2020, the U.S. internet penetration rate reached 89%, and the internet market is saturated.

The construction of Internet infrastructure in the United States started early, the network coverage rate is high, and most of the people who have the need and ability to access the Internet have already become Internet users. In addition, the population growth rate of the United States has been maintained at 0.7%-1% all year round, and the contribution of the new population to the growth of Internet users is limited, and the growth of Internet users has entered a bottleneck period.

The situation is similar in Japan.

From the late 90s of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century, the number of Internet users in Japan grew rapidly, from about 18 million in 1998 to more than 70 million in 2005 due to its advanced technology and economic strength.

But as internet penetration approaches 90%, market saturation increases, and growth slows. When the majority of the population is connected to the Internet, it becomes increasingly difficult to tap into new netizen groups.

Taken together, there are two main reasons for the slowdown in the growth of Internet users in the United States and Japan.

First, the Internet market tends to be saturated, the Internet developed rapidly in the early days, the network coverage is extensive, and most of the people who are willing and able to access the Internet have become netizens; Second, the population growth is slow, and it is difficult for the new population to form a strong support for the growth of the number of netizens, and it is difficult to tap a large number of new potential netizen groups.

(2) Analysis of China’s national conditions  

From the perspective of China’s national situation, there are many internal reasons for the slowdown in the growth of Internet users.

The gradual increase in the saturation of the Internet market is an important factor.

With the rapid development of the Internet in China over the years, more and more people have become netizens. Especially in urban areas, where internet penetration is already quite high, the number of people who can potentially convert into Internet users has decreased dramatically. Those who have a need for the Internet and can afford to use it have basically integrated into the online world.

Although significant progress has been made in the popularization of the Internet in rural areas, it is still difficult for some people to become Internet users in a short period of time due to the limitations of infrastructure, education level, economic conditions and other factors.

Demographic changes have also had an impact on the growth of Internet users.

China’s aging population is gradually deepening, and some of the elderly are relatively weak in their ability to accept the Internet, and their willingness and speed to learn to use the Internet are slow.

Although in recent years, there have been many Internet training and age-appropriate products for the elderly, but it will still take a long time for this group of people to integrate into the Internet on a large scale.

At the same time, the decline in the birth rate has led to a decrease in the number of new people, which also means that the source of growth of potential Internet users in the future is limited.

Technological bottlenecks cannot be ignored either.

In the early stage of the development of the mobile Internet, the popularization of 4G technology and the rapid development of smartphones greatly promoted the growth of the number of Internet users.

However, although 5G technology has been launched, it is not yet fully mature, and its application scenarios and popularity need to be further improved. Without such a revolutionary breakthrough as 4G technology, it is difficult to stimulate the enthusiasm of a large number of non-Internet users.

In addition, the innovation of Internet applications has gradually entered a bottleneck period, and the existing application models and services are difficult to attract more non-Internet users to join the Internet family.

5. Looking at China from the perspective of netizen growth, a wonderful journey from macro to micro  

(1) Insight into macro national conditions  

The growth curve of the number of Chinese Internet users is like a vivid picture, showing the development of China’s economy, science and technology, society and other aspects from the macro level.

Sustained economic growth is an important cornerstone for driving the growth of the number of Internet users.

With the rapid development of China’s economy and the continuous improvement of people’s income levels, more and more families have the ability to buy computers, smartphones and other Internet equipment, which provides a material basis for accessing the Internet.

At the same time, the development of the economy has also prompted enterprises to increase investment in the Internet field, which has promoted the vigorous development of the Internet industry and further attracted more users to the Internet.

The advancement of science and technology has given wings to the growth of netizens.

From the popularization of broadband networks to the rapid development of mobile Internet, from the prosperity of the 4G era to the beginning of the 5G era, every technological breakthrough has greatly improved the network speed and user experience, making Internet access more convenient and efficient.

The continuous innovation of Internet technology, such as big data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, etc., has also provided strong technical support for the enrichment and expansion of Internet applications, attracting more people to integrate into the online world.

The overall progress of society has also played a positive role in promoting the growth of netizens.

The improvement of education level has made people’s ability to obtain and use information continue to increase, and they are more aware of the importance of the Internet, so as to actively embrace the Internet.

The improvement of the social security system has made people’s lives more stable and has more time and energy to devote to online life. In addition, the diversified development of society and culture has also provided rich content resources for the Internet, met the needs of different groups of people, and promoted the growth of the number of netizens.

(2) Exploration of micro factors  

From a micro level, changes in personal needs and lifestyles are important reasons for the growth of netizens.

In the era of information explosion, people’s demand for information is growing day by day.

As an ocean of information, the Internet brings together a large amount of news and information, knowledge popularization, academic research and other content, and meets people’s needs for access to all kinds of information. Through the Internet, people can learn about the world without leaving home, obtain the latest scientific and technological trends, cultural and artistic information, social hot events, etc., and broaden their horizons and knowledge.

The need for entertainment and social interaction is also an important factor that motivates people to go online.

The rise of short video platforms has provided people with a rich variety of entertainment content, from funny skits to food sharing, from life records to talent shows. People can relax and relieve stress by watching short videos in their leisure time.

At the same time, the short video platform also has powerful social functions, users can like, comment, share favorite videos, interact with other users, and make like-minded friends.

The popularity of instant messaging tools has made it extremely convenient for people to communicate. Whether it is to keep in touch with friends and family, or to communicate with colleagues at work, you can do it anytime and anywhere through instant messaging tools such as WeChat and QQ, breaking the limitations of time and space.

Lifestyle changes have also made the Internet an indispensable part of people’s lives.

The convenience of online shopping allows people to easily shop for goods from all over the world at home, saving time and effort. The wide application of mobile payment has made it the norm to go out without cash, whether it is shopping, taking a taxi or dining, only a mobile phone can be used to complete the payment, which greatly improves the efficiency of life.

In addition, the development of online education, online medical services and other services has also provided people with more convenient ways to learn and receive medical care. Through the online education platform, students can learn anytime and anywhere and obtain high-quality educational resources; Through the online medical platform, patients can make appointments, inquire about test reports, and conduct remote consultations with doctors, reducing the rush and waiting time for medical treatment.

6. Where does the future go? Looking forward to your voice  

The number of Internet users in China has exceeded 1.1 billion, which has a profound impact on all aspects of society.

Economically, the huge number of netizens has brought a vast consumer market. E-commerce companies can dig deep into user needs, expand business, innovate models, and promote consumption upgrading.

In the field of culture, the dissemination of network culture will set off a new upsurge. Cultural products such as online literature, short videos, and online dramas have a wider audience, and cultural dissemination and exchanges have accelerated, which has also prompted creators to produce more high-quality and diversified works.  

However, the increase in the number of netizens has also made information security more challenging. Hidden dangers such as online fraud, personal information leakage, and cyber attacks may intensify, and it is urgent to ensure the information security of netizens and maintain network order.

The phenomenon of the growth of Internet users is related to the lives of each and every one of us. I’ll dive deeper into the implications and bring you more exciting content.

Here, I also look forward to you leaving a message in the comment area, sharing your views on the number of Chinese netizens exceeding 1.1 billion, and what impact do you think this phenomenon will bring, and let’s discuss the future direction of Internet development together.