More than two-thirds of American adults were users of the Internet in 2003, according to a poll published by market research company Harris Interactive.

The figure of 69 percent of those polled represents around 146 million people.

Internet use among adults is growing constantly, Harris Interactive said, noting that the figure had risen from 67 percent in 2002, 64 percent in 2001, and 56 percent in 1999.

The first poll taken, in 1995, found that only nine percent -- some 17.5 million people -- said they used the Internet.

The poll found that most Internet use -- some 61 percent -- occurs at home, while 31 percent ocurrs at work.

The biggest change was seen in users of high-speed Internet -- 37 percent of users, compared with 22 percent two years ago.

Internet users spend at least nine hours a week on the web compared with seven hours in late 2002. Some 93 percent of users gave their ages at less than 65 years, and 60 percent were university students.

The telephone poll, taken last November and December, surveyed 2,033 people aged above 18 years.

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