60% of Armenia’s population internet users – expert

About 50% of the world population - about 40% of Armenia’s population - are not Internet users, expert Manvel Martirosyan told reporters on Monday.

“Programs are being implemented throughout the world to reduce the number of people not using Internet. The number of Internet users is now 60% of Armenia’s population. But this number includes people aged 14 and over, and if we add children below 14, the percentage will be higher. We can say that 2/3 of or population are Internet users,” he said.

Speaking of developed countries, Mr Martirosyan said that 80 to 90 percent of the population are Internet users.

“We have in recent years had an increase in the number of Internet users. In 2010, only 5% of Armenia’s population were Internet users because it was a rather expensive cable Internet service,” the expert said.
Speaking of the differences between Internet users in Armenia and in other countries, Mr Martirosyan said that Europeans are using not only social networks.

“The Internet is a means of communicating with the government for them. Of course, it is great we have Internet in Armenia, but it is not yet vital because we can live without it in Armenia. Internet is not so beneficial in Armenia as it is in the European countries.”