📢 Big news, amigos! China's internet users have hit a whopping 1.1 BILLION as of December 2024! 🎉 That's an increase of 16 million from last year, according to a report released on Friday by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC).
Why is this a big deal? Well, it shows the massive potential of the Chinese mainland's digital economy and its power in driving tech innovation forward. 🚀
After 30 years of being fully connected to the global internet, the Chinese mainland has reached an internet penetration rate of 78.6% in 2024. That's HUGE! 🌐
With the world's largest internet infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, the digital economy in the Chinese mainland is booming like never before. 📈
By the end of last year, over 1 billion people were using online payments, and 974 million were shopping online—a jump of 59.5 million people from the end of 2023! 🛍️💳
According to the report, \"the Chinese mainland continues to lead the world in both online retail sales and mobile payment penetration.\" 🏆
Official data shows that in 2024, total online retail sales in the Chinese mainland reached 15.52 trillion yuan (about $2.18 trillion), up 7.2% from the previous year. Online sales of physical goods rose 6.5% to 13.08 trillion yuan, making up 26.8% of total consumer goods sales. 💰
The rapid growth is powered by the expansion of 5G and broadband across urban and rural areas. By November 2024, 4.19 million 5G base stations had been built, and 209 million users are enjoying gigabit broadband. 📶🚀
Thanks to stable internet connectivity, more people, including the elderly and those in rural areas, are shopping online. Nearly 70% of netizens aged 60+ and over 76% of rural users are hopping on the e-commerce train! 🚂💨
Short videos and livestreams are the new shopping hubs, especially for rural netizens. Around 71% of viewers have made purchases after watching, with more than half tuning in regularly to live-stream sales. 📹🛒
Emerging from the Chinese mainland's booming short video industry, micro-dramas—short but captivating shows—are a hit, attracting 662 million viewers, nearly 60% of all internet users! This thriving industry created around 647,000 jobs last year and may surpass the total box office revenue on the Chinese mainland for the first time in 2024! 🎬🌟
Online tourism is back in action! With 548 million people booking travel online—a rise of 39.35 million from last year—the sector is thriving thanks to digital innovation. ✈️🏖️
AI technology is transforming industries, from online marketing to smart diagnostics. The report notes that 331 million people are aware of generative AI products, and 249 million are using them for everything from answering questions to office work. 🤖💡
All in all, the digital revolution in the Chinese mainland is changing the game, and we're here for it! 🌐🔥
Reference(s):
China's internet users surpass 1.1 billion, powering digital economy
cgtn.com
