Information Society indicators in the Member States of the EU
<<< Table of contents - Next chapter >>>	Part 2:  PCs, Internet, e-commerce and television

2. Internet

2.4 E-Commerce

2.4.1 E-commerce market overview

The E-commerce market was evaluated at 14 380 million EUR at the end of 1999, representing a growth of 270% on 1998. Data presented include the Business to Business (B to B) market which represents the major part of the total market.

Graph 42: E-commerce market – Million EUR

2.4.2 E-commerce market per country

The E-commerce spending per 100 inhabitants indicator is very close to the Internet penetration indicator. It shows that market maturity regarding the Internet and B to B potentiality. One can distinguish 4 categories of countries :

• Countries with an e-commerce market per 100 inhabitants ranging between 7000 and 9500 EUR: Nordic countries, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
• Countries with an e-commerce market per 100 inh. ranged between 6000 and 6900 EUR : Germany and Austria.
• Intermediary countries such as Italy, France and Ireland with an e-commerce market ranging between 2000 and 4000 Euros per 100 inhabitants.
• Countries with a less advanced e-commerce market ranging between 100 and 1300 Euros per 100 inh.: Spain, Belgium, Greece and Portugal.

Graph 43: E-commerce market per 100 inh. – Euros – End 1999

The graph below shows the evolution of the EU e-commerce market per 100 inhabitants.

Graph 44: E-Commerce market per 100 inh. – Evolution 1998-1999 Euros