Number of web users in Asia, Africa, and Mid-East to soar by 2013

Washington, July 22 (ANI): New figures have predicted that Internet use in Asia, Africa, and Middle East will skyrocket in the next four years.

The new report from Forrester Research has revealed that approximately 2.2 billion people will be online over the next few years - an increase of over 45 percent.

And they analysts have forecasted that by 2013, 43 percent of that 2.2 billion will be based in Asia, with 17 percent in China alone.

According to Forrester Research, in 2008, the US was home to the most Internet users, followed by China, Japan, Brazil, and Germany, Business Journal reports.

But as compared to the past figures, in 2013, China will be in first place, followed by the US, India, Japan, and Brazil.

"While per capita online spending is likely to remain highest in North America, Western Europe, and the developed markets of Asia throughout the next five years," the Christian Science Monitor quoted Forrester Research Senior Analyst Zia Daniell Wigder as saying in a statement.

He added: "The shifting online population and growing spending power among Asian consumers means that Asian markets will represent a far greater percentage of the total in 2013 than they do today."

Forrester also predicted that Middle Eastern and African countries, which currently represent only 8 percent of the global online population, would have very high growth rates in coming years.

In that region, Nigeria, Iran, and Egypt are expected to see the biggest increases. (ANI)