BEIJING: China’s Internet population has overtaken the United States’ to become the world’s biggest with about 220 million web surfers, a research firm said on Friday.

The Chinese figure dates from late February, when the US online population was estimated at about 217 million, according to BDA China, a Beijing-based technology consulting and research firm.

“There are two major drivers. One is continued strong growth in broadband users. The other is the popularity of Internet cafes in relatively small cities,” said Liu Bin, an analyst with BDA China.

The United States has occupied the number one position since the birth of the Internet as a network of computers under the auspices of the US Department of Defence in 1969, the state-run China Daily newspaper said. But by the end of 2008, China is expected to have 280 million Internet users, according to BDA China.—AFP