According to September 2006 data from Nielsen//NetRatings, 48 percent of the global online population was female, while 52 percent was male.

In terms of age, 18 percent of global online users were under age 18, one-fourth between 18 and 34, 29 percent between 35 and 40, and 28 percent above 40.

In Europe, Japan and Brazil, women make up less than a half of the overall Internet population, and in Australia the two genders are about equal. In the United States, however, men comprise less than 50 percent of the Internet population.

In Brazil, the Internet population is relatively younger - online users aged under 25 made up more than 60 percent. In Europe and Australia, online users were also younger than the global average, while in the United States, the Internet population skews older, with 31 percent of Internet users over 50, according to the 2007 World Digital Media Trends report published by World Association of Newspapers.