The British online population has grown quickly since the mid-1990s, from 3.4 million
adults in 1996, 5.4 million in 1997, 9.4 million in 1998, 17.7 million in 1999, to 18.5 million in
2000, 19 million in 2001 and 22 million in 2002. In 2001 alone, the home computer penetration rate increased by 11%. 45% of British households were connected to the Internet in 2002, increasing from 38% in 2001. 47% of British adults use the Internet regularly (defined as
having used the Internet within the month prior to the survey).