Google visitor numbers up 15%

30th July 2008

The number of unique UK visitors using Google search rose by 15 per cent to reach 27.9 million during June 2008 compared with May 2007, according to new Nielsen Online figures.

Statistics released by the research firm also showed that Google Maps usage soared by 57 per cent in the last 12 months, with Google's YouTube property enjoying a 52 per cent increase.

Other sites that saw significant growth in unique audience share were found to include Wikipedia (41 per cent), Amazon (25 per cent) and BBC News (18 per cent). Microsoft, however, saw usage of its Hotmail and Windows Media Player services drop.

"It's been a very mixed year for the leading websites and applications," remarked Nielsen Online internet analyst Alex Burmaster.

"Whilst Google, Amazon and the social media players have outpaced overall internet growth, Microsoft has had a very challenging time and represents a changing of the guard from the media behemoths to the more nimble specialists."

According to recent comScore research, entertainment - news was the most popular category of websites for UK internet users during June.