Chinese Internet population grows by 73 million users to 457 million

According to the stats provided by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) the population of the Internet users in China has grown to 457 million at the end of 2010. While the addition of 73 million users from the previous year may seem a huge figure still it is considered as a slowdown from the previous year and points to a gradual maturing of the Internet market in China.

Last year's addition of 73 million people represents a 19 percent growth on 2009, when the Internet population expanded by 86 million people or 28 percent. In 2008 it grew by 88 million, equivalent to a 41 percent increase. The first major surge in the Internet user base occurred in 2007 with the addition of 73 million users for growth of 53 percent.