Purchasing power of US Hispanic households is predicted to increase from US$276 billion in 2002 to US$400 billion in 2010. (TERRA NETWORKS, 2001)

By 2005, Hispanics will be the majority minority in the US, outnumbering African-Americans (HispanAmerica Response Marketing).

The average Hispanic Internet user is male, 32 years old, and has an average annual income of $51,600. Around half of the Hispanic American Internet users are Spanish-dominant (Spanish is the primary language used in their homes). Around 74% connect to the Internet every day and 78% access the Web from home. Close to one-third have shopped online. According to a survey made in 2001, the average respondent made six online purchases during the year, and spent a total of $547; while 62% of the respondents made at least one online purchase. (Sources: Terra Lycos, 2001; Research and Research Inc., Pew Internet & American Life)

According to the US Census Bureau, Internet use among the 35 million Hispanic Americans who represent 13% of the US population jumped from 38% in 1999 to 55% in 2001. (Use among all US ethnic groups is skyrocketing due to falling computer prices and skill requirements.) The Hispanics are currently spending 55% of their online time in Spanish—the same percent of time that they have traditionally spent listening to the radio and watching television in Spanish. As with the other media, their preference in Internet content is for US-related information, rather than content from their home countries.

Around 60% of Latin Americans are less than 30 years old, which "promises a fast adoption of new technologies." (eWorld Research)

Online sales from company to consumer in Latin America will reach 8,300 million dollars by the year 2005, amount to which Brazil will contribute 4,200 million and Mexico 1,500 million. (International Data Corporation, October, 2000)

In Latin America, Internet usage has increased more than 325 percent since 1997. (IDC Latin America's "Internet and Ecommerce Strategies")

Mexico's population is estimated at about 100 million, and the latest estimates show 6.7 million people online. (Source: Nielsen Net Ratings, April, 2001). According to a survey conducted by The Mexican Association for the Advertising and Commercial Internet Industry, out of the 2,183 Mexicans surveyed, 6% had bought something on the Internet in the last 90 days, and 55% of these said they would probably make another purchase in the next 12 months.

LATIN AMERICA

The Latin American Internet user base has the fastest growth rate in the world, posting a 67% increase in 2001 alone. The greatest recruitment occurred at the residential level, where homes connected to the network increased from 4.8 to 7.7 million due to falling telephone rates and increased broadband access. (Source: International Data Corporation)

Internet users in Latin America are expected to increase to 162 million in 2005. Portuguese-speaking Brazil is the country that has the highest number of users, going from 7.8 million to 55.9 million in 2005. Mexico is in second place, with an increase from 6.7 million to 31.97 million. Argentina and Chile are in third and fourth place. (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2001)

Business users on the Web are three times more likely to purchase when addressed in their native language. (HispanAmerica Response Marketing)

INTERNATIONAL

Spanish is the world’s third most widely spoken language, following Mandarin Chinese and English. It is spoken by around 400 million people. Organizations like Nielsen Net Ratings and Nua Internet Surveys estimate the online Spanish-speaking population today at approximately 36 million people—around 14%.

In 2001, Spain's Terra Networks acquired Lycos, the fourth largest Web portal in the U.S. The newly formed company, Terra Lycos, has a strong presence in Latin America, Europe, Asia and the United States. Terra Lycos is betting on research that shows that by 2003 two-thirds of all Internet spending will be outside the United States, and one-third of all Internet users will prefer to use a language other than English.

We have presented pertinent information and statistics from various sources which we consider reliable. Please contact us if you would like to comment on these, discuss the value of a Spanish-language site for your business, or request a quotation.