14 percent of world's population over age 15 is online
A study released this week shows that worldwide, 694 million people ages 15 and older used the Internet in March. That's 14 percent of the total population within that age group, according to comScore Networks, which launched a new comScore World Metrix report Thursday.
The study also found that the U.S., which represented two-thirds of the Internet user population 10 years ago, now represents less than one-quarter. Israelis spend the most time online, averaging 57.5 hours during the month of March. Other heavy Web surfers, in terms of hours spent online, were the Finnish, South Koreans, Dutch and Taiwanese--all residents of countries with high broadband penetration, the study noted.
Microsoft MSN's sites had the most global users, followed by Google and Yahoo. Yahoo sites led in terms of global page views, followed by Google and then Microsoft's MSN sites, the study found.
Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry Standard, the IDG News Service, and the Associated Press. E-mail Elinor. 
