MUMBAI: The number of internet users in China surpassed 94 million by the end of 2004, recording a year-on-year growth of 18.2 per cent. According to a survey conducted by China Internet Network Information Center in July 2004, China has 39.4 per cent female netizens and for the male segment the figure stands at 60.6 per cent.
 

But that is not the case with Hong Kong and Macao. The number of internet users in these two regions stood at 51 per cent and 46 per cent respectively at the end of 2004.

Age-wise, more than 50 per cent of internet users in China are below 25 on the mainland, in Hong Kong it is 39 per cent and in Macao it stands at 51 per cent. In China, 32 per cent of the internet users are students.
 

According to the survey, approximately 67.9 per cent of netizens surf from home. About 40 per cent surf in offices, internet cafes and schools. In China people surf the web mainly to check e-mails, read news and gather information. About 6.3 per cent say they use the internet for educational purposes.