STUDENT STATISTICS

Since the early 90's, the Internet has taken its place as the most comprehensive and effective resource in international education. In recent years, internet use has increased almost exponentially.

Currently, the Internet has 173 million users in Latin America & the Caribbean; of those 67 million are Brazilians. In percentage, they make up almost 11% of all Internet users worldwide. As an average, the internet reachs 30% of the total population, with countries like Chile where nearly 51% of the population is online, and countries like Nicaragua where less than 3% of the total population has access to the web.

Europe, has now almost 400 million users, meaning 25% of all internet users worldwide. The penetration considering the percentage of the population it reaches is 49% as an average, with regions like the Scandinavian reaching almost 90% of the population, and others like South-Eastern Europe with less than 20%.

While these numbers, in part, may be attributed to computers and the Internet being less expensive and more easily accessible in developing parts of the world, the fact is that nowadays the internet is a very powerfull marketing tool, giving the opportunity to reach the wealthiest percentage of the popupation.

Statistical Highlights

Internet Number of Users

1,596 million users worldwide

173 million users in Latin America
- 67 million in Brazil
- 27 million in Mexico
- 20 milllion in Argentina
- 17 million in Colombia
- 8 million in Chile
- 7 million in Peru
- 6 million in Venezuela

393 million users in Europe
- 28 million in Italy
- 27 million in Spain
- 13 million in the Netherlands
- 4 million in Portugal

Percentage of Internet Users Worldwide

Latin America: 11%
Europe: 25%
North America:  16%

Growth In Internet Users Since 2000

In less than 10 years the gowth in internet users went from 248 million in December 1999 to 1,596 million in March 2009
Worldwide Growth: 544%

Latin Ameridca Growth: 660%
Europe Growth: 236%
North America Growth: 128%

Amount of Students Pursuing Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses in 2004 (by Country)

Argentina – 8,106
Brazil – 17,910
Chile – 5,671
Colombia – 15,576
Mexico – 22,367  (up from 12,801 only 2 years earlier)
Peru – 9,976
Venezuela – 9,832

Total:  89,438 (only top contributing countries included)
Total from Latin America and Caribbean:  146,000 (up 40% from 1999)

Sources: 
www.internetworldstats.com
http://atlas.iienetwork.org
http://unesco.org/education/index.shtml