Internet use in the Arab countries

Growth patterns, 2000-2008

Country

Population

Users 2000

Users 2008

% of total

Increase

Penetration

Algeria

33,769,669

50,000

3,500,000

9.13%

6900%

10.4%

Bahrain

718,306

40,000

250,000

0.65%

525%

34.8%

Comoros

731,775

1,500

21,000

0.05%

1300%

2.9%

Djibouti

506,221

1,400

11,000

0.03%

686%

2.2%

Egypt

81,713,517

450,000

8,620,000

22.48%

1816%

10.5%

Iraq

28,221,181

12,500

54,000

0.14%

332%

0.2%

Jordan

6,198,677

127,300

1,126,700

2.94%

785%

18.2%

Kuwait

2,596,799

150,000

900,000

2.35%

500%

34.7%

Lebanon

3,971,941

300,000

950,000

2.48%

217%

23.9%

Libya

6,173,579

10,000

260,000

0.68%

2500%

4.2%

Mauritania

3,364,940

5,000

30,000

0.08%

500%

0.9%

Morocco

34,343,219

100,000

7,300,000

19.04%

7200%

21.3%

Oman

3,311,640

90,000

300,000

0.78%

233%

9.1%

Palestine (W Bank)

2,611,904

35,000

355,000

0.93%

914%

13.6%

Qatar

928,635

30,000

351,000

0.92%

1070%

37.8%

Saudi Arabia

28,161,417

200,000

6,200,000

16.17%

3000%

22.0%

Somalia

9,558,666

200

98,000

0.26%

48900%

1.0%

Sudan

40,218,455

30,000

1,500,000

3.91%

4900%

3.7%

Syria

19,747,586

30,000

2,132,000

5.56%

7007%

10.8%

Tunisia

10,383,577

100,000

1,765,430

4.60%

1665%

17.0%

UAE

4,621,399

735,000

2,300,000

6.00%

213%

49.8%

Yemen

23,013,376

15,000

320,000

0.83%

2033%

1.4%

TOTAL

344,866,479

2,512,900

38,344,130

100.00%

1426%

11.1%

Source: Internet World Stats, 2008.

NOTE: Internet "users" are defined as those who access the internet at least once a month; "penetration" is the number of users as a percentage of the total population.