Google Chrome Was World’s Most Popular Browser Last Week

Last week, Google Chrome was the most popular web browser over a one week period for the first time in its history.

Between 14 and 20 May, Chrome was more popular than all of its competitors worldwide, despite Internet Explorer retaining the top spot in both the UK and North America.

Popularity contest

Google’s web browser has slowly but surely gained market share since its inception and surpassed Firefox in popularity last year. Internet Explorer has suffered, but still remains the most popular browser, controlling more than half of the US browser market six months ago.

According to Statcounter, Chrome accounted for 32.75 percent of all browsing during the week, ahead of Internet Explorer with 31.94 percent and Mozilla Firefox’s 24.57 percent share. Safari was the browser of choice for 7.08 percent of users, with Opera propping up the table with just 1.74 percent.

In the UK, Internet Explorer experienced some decline in usage, although not enough for Chrome to displace it as the market leader. Microsoft’s web browser was used by 36.81 percent of British users, while Chrome was the software of choice for 28.95 percent. Internet Explorer was also able to retain its lead in North America and Oceania.

Firefox holds a huge lead in the African market and remains Europe’s favourite browser, although Chrome was able to push Internet Explorer into third. However Chrome is now ahead of both its main rivals in Asia and has a massive lead in South America, where it accounts for almost half all web browsing on the continent. One area where it failed to make an impact was in Antarctica, where Firefox was used for all web visits last week.

How well do you know your web browsers? Find out with our quiz!

Steve McCaskill

Steve McCaskill is editor of TechWeekEurope and ChannelBiz. He joined as a reporter in 2011 and covers all areas of IT, with a particular interest in telecommunications, mobile and networking, along with sports technology.

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