China Lags 12 Years Behind the U.S. in Terms of Internet Adoption

While for many people the internet has become a part of everyday life, it's important to remember that there are still people in the world that do not enjoy the perks associated with regular internet access. According to a recent report by the Pew Research Center, internet adoption still varies widely from country to country. Take China for example: according to Pew, only 55 percent of Chinese adults use the internet at least occasionally. The U.S. had an internet adoption rate of 55 percent twelve years ago in 2001, which is an eternity in technology. Our chart illustrates the growth of internet adoption in the United States and shows how far along in the adoption curve some other countries were in 2013.