Online Population

The percentage of adults with Internet access in each state.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The number of people online is probably the most basic indication of a state’s progress toward the digital economy. In 1997, 25 percent of households were online nationwide; by the end of 1998, the percentage was up to 33; by the end of 1999, it is projected to be 38 percent; and by 2003, it’s projected to be well over half.18 (The percentage of adults online is even higher than the percentage of households because some people have access at work, or through colleges or universities, and not at home.) Moreover, as technology becomes cheaper (companies have even begun to give away PCs if individuals subscribe to Internet access services), a broader range of Americans are getting online. The average income of Internet users is dropping, as is the average education level. Both trends suggest that the online population is looking more and more like the American population in general.19

THE RANKINGS: States differ significantly in the degree to which their residents are online. As of the end of 1998, approximately one-third of the U.S. population was online. This reflected a range from 52 percent in Alaska and 47 percent in Colorado to 19 percent in Arkansas and 17 percent in Mississippi. In general, residents of Southern and Plains states are less likely to be online, while residents of Pacific, Mountain, and Northeast states are more likely.

STATES BY RANK
Rank	State	Score
1	Alaska	52%
2	Colorado	47%
3	Maryland	46%
4	Utah	46%
5	New Hampshire	41%
6	Washington	41%
7	Virginia	40%
8	Massachusetts	39%
9	Idaho	37%
10	Wyoming	36%
11	California	36%
12	Minnesota	35%
13	Oregon	34%
14	Arizona	34%
15	Vermont	34%
16	Maine	34%
17	Delaware	33%
18	Texas	33%
19	Connecticut	32%
20	Georgia	32%
21	Hawaii	32%
22	New Mexico	32%
23	Kansas	32%
24	New Jersey	32%
25	Rhode Island	31%
26	Tennessee	31%
27	Florida	31%
28	Ohio	30%
29	Wisconsin	30%
30	Nebraska	30%
31	Montana	30%
32	Missouri	28%
33	North Dakota	28%
34	Pennsylvania	27%
35	Nevada	27%
36	New York	27%
37	South Carolina	27%
38	Iowa	27%
39	Oklahoma	26%
40	North Carolina	26%
41	Indiana	26%
42	Michigan	26%
43	Illinois	26%
44	South Dakota	25%
45	Alabama	25%
46	Kentucky	23%
47	Louisiana	21%
48	West Virginia	20%
49	Arkansas	19%
50	Mississippi	17%

	U.S. average20	31%

ALPHABETICALLY
State	Rank	Score
Alabama	45	25%
Alaska	1	52%
Arizona	14	34%
Arkansas	49	19%
California	11	36%
Colorado	2	47%
Connecticut	19	32%
Delaware	17	33%
Florida	27	31%
Georgia	20	32%
Hawaii	21	32%
Idaho	9	37%
Illinois	43	26%
Indiana	41	26%
Iowa	38	27%
Kansas	23	32%
Kentucky	46	23%
Louisiana	47	21%
Maine	16	34%
Maryland	3	46%
Massachusetts	8	39%
Michigan	42	26%
Minnesota	12	35%
Mississippi	50	17%
Missouri	32	28%
Montana	31	30%
Nebraska	30	30%
Nevada	35	27%
New Hampshire	5	41%
New Jersey	24	32%
New Mexico	22	32%
New York	36	27%
North Carolina	40	26%
North Dakota	33	28%
Ohio	28	30%
Oklahoma	39	26%
Oregon	13	34%
Pennsylvania	34	27%
Rhode Island	25	31%
South Carolina	37	27%
South Dakota	44	25%
Tennessee	26	31%
Texas	18	33%
Utah	4	46%
Vermont	15	34%
Virginia	7	40%
Washington	6	41%
West Virginia	48	20%
Wisconsin	29	30%
Wyoming	10	36%

Source: Cyber Dialogue, December 1998 data.

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Technology, Innovation, and New Economy Project
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