China is the largest online community in the world and the number of Chinese users continues to rise. In June, Beijing exceeded 800 million users, reaching 802 million, a number that in percentage terms represents an increase of 3,8% compared to the previous 6 months.
These are the data of the 42nd semi-annual report of the China Internet Network Information Center according to which the availability rate is 57,7%, with more than 26% in rural areas.
The age group most active online is between 30 and 39 years old and accounts for 39,9% of the total. Compared to other countries, the boom in those surfing the web via mobile stands out: we are talking about 788 million people in the first six months of 2018, 98,3% of the overall figure.
Among the continuously expanding sectors, the financial services sector stands out above all, which in just six months recorded a growth of over 4%, from 16,7% to 21%, despite the squeeze by the supervisory authorities: users are 39,74 million, +30,9% on the figure at the end of 2017. Online shopping and payments account for 71%: a good 569 million units, with sales of 4.080 billion yuan (almost 600 billion dollars), up at the end June by 30,1% over the end of December.
By comparison with the United States, the gap is abysmal: the number of users who access the internet using a mobile device in China is three times greater than that of the United States, while taking into account only mobile payments, one reaches figure 12 times greater than that of the United States.
It should be taken into consideration, as Asia News recalls, that China has blocked 135 sites among the most visited sites in the world through a system called Golden Shield. Any examples? Google, Youtube, Facebook and Twitter.
