Global PC count tops 1 billion

The number of PCs in operation around the world has this year topped one billion, according to technology analysts Gartner, and is on track to reach two billion by 2014.

The number of PCs in operation around the world has this year topped one billion, according to technology analysts Gartner, and is on track to reach two billion by 2014.

The majority of installed PCs are used by the 15% of the world’s population that live in the United States, Europe and Japan.

But like many other things in the world, the balance of PC power is gradually shifting towards the developing world, with per capita PC penetration to the most populous parts of the world likely to double by 2013.

“There’s a startling difference in per capita PC penetration between mature and emerging markets. Of course, much of this difference reflects the disparity in average living standards between mature and emerging markets,” Gartner research director George Shiffler says. “But, rapid economic development across emerging markets is not only narrowing the disparity in average living standards, it’s closing the difference in per capita PC penetration between mature and emerging markets.”

Mature markets accounted for just under 60% of the first billion installed PCs, but Gartner says it expects emerging markets to account for approximately 70% of the next billion PCs to be installed over the next five years.

Read more on computer use