Romania ranks fifth in the Central Eastern European region in terms of Internet users, but ranks second to last based on the value of the online advertising market per user, according to a recent study issued by IAB Europe and Gemius Research.

Only EUR 2 of online advertising are spent per user in Romania, according to the study. The Romanian online advertising market reached EUR 15.3 million in 2009.

The highest online advertising spending per user was recorded in the Czech Republic, of EUR 48. There, the online advertising market was of EUR 250 million in 2009. The Czech Republic had 5.2 million Internet users in January this year. The amount of online advertising spent per user in Romania was higher than in Belarus, where the online advertising market was of EUR 4.3 million in 2009 and the amount spent per user was of EUR 1.4.

There were 7.5 million Internet users in Romania, out of a population of around 21 million, at the beginning of last year. Russia had 40.9 million Internet users (out of 142 million inhabitants), Turkey, 21.6 million (out of 72 million inhabitants), Poland – 15.5 million Internet users out of a population of 38 million and Ukraine, 8.9 million Internet users out of 46.9 million inhabitants.

The biggest online advertising markets in the region are Russia, with EUR 494 million, Poland, with EUR 296 million, the Czech Republic, with EUR 250 million, Turkey, with EUR 130 million and Hungary, some EUR 90 million.

To get the full report, go here.

editor@romania-insider.com