China Internet population hits 384 million

China's population of Internet users jumped by nearly a third to 384 million at the end of last year, an official report showed on Friday.

Throughout 2009, the number of Chinese Internet users grew by 86 million -- more than the total population of Germany -- or a rise of 28.9 percent compared to the end of 2008. The survey, based on a count of residents who said they used the Internet in the past six months, found 29 percent of China's 1.3 billion people are now net users. The numbers establish China's position as the world's largest online community, more than the entire population of the United States.

By contrast, approximately 74 percent of Americans use the Internet and 77 percent of South Koreans.