15% of American adults do not use the internet

[klr]

http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Non ... users.aspx

As of May 2013, 15% of American adults ages 18 and older do not use the internet or email.

Asked why they do not use the internet:
34% of non-internet users think the internet is just not relevant to them, saying they are not interested, do not want to use it, or have no need for it.
32% of non-internet users cite reasons tied to their sense that the internet is not very easy to use. These non-users say it is difficult or frustrating to go online, they are physically unable, or they are worried about other issues such as spam, spyware, and hackers. This figure is considerably higher than in earlier surveys.
19% of non-internet users cite the expense of owning a computer or paying for an internet connection.
7% of non-users cited a physical lack of availability or access to the internet.

Even among the 85% of adults who do go online, experiences connecting to the internet may vary widely. For instance, even though 76% of adults use the internet at home, 9% of adults use the internet but lack home access. These internet users cite many reasons for not having internet connections at home, most often relating to issues of affordability—some 44% mention financial issues such as not having a computer, or having a cheaper option outside the home.

About the Survey
The findings in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from April 17 to May 19, 2013, among a sample of 2,252 adults ages 18 and older. Telephone interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline and cell phone. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling is plus or minus 2.3 percentage points. More information is available in the Methods section at the end of this report.

... there's a detailed report available from the above summary page.

No real surprises: The elderly, the less well educated, the poorer ... those are the people less likely to be on-line. Also, the rate at which people are becoming internet users has (predictably) slowed down. The last few % are always going to be the most difficult.

[Tyrannical]

Telephone interviews

I bet internet usage is even lower for those with no telephones

[klr]

Telephone interviews

I bet internet usage is even lower for those with no telephones

I was going to make that point, but I left it for someone else ... although TBH, it would probably only raise the "no internet" figures by a couple of percentage points.

[klr]

... and if you read the "methods" section at the end of the report, you'll see they made adjustments for the bias effect.

[Tero]

How many percent of Americans never touch a book after school years? 20%?

[klr]

How many percent of Americans never touch a book after school years? 20%?

How many never touch one during school years?

And I wouldn't confine such questions to just Americans.

[Blind groper]

Americans are 'special' though.

Of all western nations, the USA has by far the highest rate of religious belief. It is not unreasonable to ask if this means Americans are more irrational than other western peoples.

[Tero]

We got them literate peoples though. So they can read the Bible. Almost 65% of adults can read at 5th grade level!

[JimC]

I wonder what the % is that don't have a mobile phone?

Here, I should really be included in that group... I have a bare bones version that I use maybe 3 or 4 times a year...

[Seabass]

Americans are 'special' though.

Of all western nations, the USA has by far the highest rate of religious belief. It is not unreasonable to ask if this means Americans are more irrational than other western peoples.

Maybe you should compare our IQs and cranium sizes too.

[cronus]

Porn should be used to bring 'em in more rather than deter them. It seems to have worked for the smarter better well educated who can read.