BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- China had more than 1.12 billion internet users as of June 2025, according to a report released by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) on Monday.

The report also noted that internet penetration in China reached 79.7 percent by June 2025, an increase of 1.1 percentage points compared to December 2024.

According to the report, China has made significant strides in internet development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). In particular, efforts to make the internet more inclusive have allowed key groups, such as the elderly and rural residents, to share in the benefits of this progress.

As of June 2025, China had 161 million internet users aged 60 and above, and 322 million living in rural areas. Internet penetration among these groups reached 52 percent and 69.2 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the continued development of the internet in China has played a key role in promoting Chinese culture both domestically and internationally, the report said, citing the rising export of Chinese online literature and games, along with the growing synergy between popular web series and related tourist destinations. ■