Computers and Internet Use
At the end of 2008 the share of the adult population in Bulgaria, using computers, has reached 49 %. It shows that 2009 would be the year when for the first time the computer users will comprise more than a half of the adult population in the country. For the period 2005-2008, the average increase in the number of the computer users is ranging 400 000 persons per year.
The share of the Internet users among the adult population has increased even more vigorously. It has doubled in the last three years and currently its value is 45 %. Meanwhile the use of the Internet has been essentially restructured regarding the place of access. The most considerable increase is concerning the use of the Internet at home. While this share was only 18 % in 2005, now it has reached 41 %. The educational institutions – schools and universities, more and more often offer access to Internet. Currently two-thirds of the students and the pupils (mainly those from the universities) indicate that they can use the Internet in their educational institutions. The only point that showed a constant and substantial decrease for the survey period is the use of the Internet at Internet cafes. Obviously they are not so needed anymore to provide place of access, as a result of the increasing availability of the Internet at home.
The distribution into demographic groups shows that the students and the pupils are the most active users. Only 7 % of them do not use computers and the Internet. Approximately three quarters of the state employees, private businessmen, and the private company employees also use computers and the Internet. The share of the computer and Internet users in Sofia and the large cities in Bulgaria comprises two-thirds of the adult population, while for the smaller cities this number is about 40 %. The share of the computer and Internet users in the smallest towns and villages is only about 20 %.
The data are based on a nationally representative survey carried out by Progress Consult among the adult population of the country (1700 participants).
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