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China has jumped past the U.S. in terms of total Internet users.

In February of 2008, China had more than 220 million people online according to the Beijing based research firm BDA China. In March the number reached 233 million. The U.S. by comparison had 216 million users at the close of 2007, according to Neilsen/NetRatings.

Seventy-one percent of the U.S. population is online while only 17 percent of China's population has Internet access. China has 1.3 billion people compared to the U.S with about 304 million.

At the end of 2007, China had 210 million Internet users, an increase of 53 percent over the previous year, says Zhang Shanshan, media director for the China Internet Network Information Center, which compiles figures for the Ministry of Information Industry, the USA Today reported.

BDA chairman Duncan Clark said the growth is party due to China's economic boom. While the government," continues to filter the Net and encourage self-censorship, it also has a mandate to promote cheaper technology and the knowledge economy."

China is currently the global leader in mobile phone usage.