Almost 16.5 million households in the UK now have internet access, an increase of 1.2 million since 2007, the latest official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the new figure represented close to two-thirds of UK households.

Homes in the South East are most likely to have internet access with those in north-east England least likely.

The ONS data suggested that more than two-thirds of adults go online every day or almost every day, with men more regular users than women.

In the 35% of households with no access, there was an increase in the proportion that said they did not want the internet at home, from 3% in 2006 to 24% in 2008.

The survey also found that the better educated were more likely to be online.

The ONS said that 93% of adults aged under 70 who had a university degree or equivalent qualification had internet access.

This compared with just 56% of those with no formal qualifications being online.

Communications regulator Ofcom said earlier this month that PC and laptop use had grown fourfold since 2002.

>> Download PDF

Source | BBC, ONS

So what are the most commonly used search engines in the United Kingdom in July 2008?

The data comes from Hitwise - the most accurate form of web usage statistics available (data is taken directly from ISP’s) and shows the huge obsession we have in the UK with all that is Google.

In total Google amounts to 87.24% of all UK search engine usage leaving only 12.76% of usage for ASK and Yahoo to fight over - no mention of poor old Windows Live! (I think Microsoft will have to do more than buy Yahoo if they are to compete effectively)

When constructing our search engine marketing campaigns we consider all search avenues to ensure we reach the maximum numbers of UK internet users, however Google’s dominance is for all to see.

Source | Hitwise