The latest Second Life metrics and statistics are out from Linden Lab, covering to the end of March 2008. This was a bit sudden, being hot on the heels of February's summary, but we've boiled it down for you.
Short version, premium accounts are continuing to slide, though we aren't sure if it is a trend yet, while everything else is growing or on the way up. More details after the jump.
Total signups increased by 408,499 (3.22%) in March compared to a growth of 431,477 (3.52%) in February. Slightly down, but not a significant drop. Signup rates are essentially stable.
Total premium accounts declined again in March by 1,656 (1.8%) compared to a decline of 565 (0.61%) in February. This is the second consecutive month of decline for premium accounts. That turns the clock back on premium accounts to just below their level last August.
The three most active regions by average time spent per active user in March were the Russian Federation (123.63 hours), Japan (77.95 hours), and the Netherlands (72.7 hours). Overall, 544,290 users (up from February) spent an average of 56.27 hours each in Second Life during the month of February, up from 53.69 in January.
The Second Life map grew by 54.45 kilometres (5.2%) in March compared to 36.26 square kilometres (3.61%) in February in January. The total at the end of March was 1,093.42 square kilometres of simulated space, of which only 17.1% is Linden mainland and the remaining 905.9 square kilometres are non-Linden estates.
The amount of resident owned mainland increased by 0.51 square kilometres in March, and private estates by 53.94 square kilometres.
March's Lindex activity was US$9,124,203, up 8.01% from the previous month's US$8,446,997.
Overall age demographics continue to trend towards us crusty oldies. 75.16% of the population is 25 years and older, and the older users spend far more time in Second Life than younger users with those over 44 years old continuing to be the heaviest users on average, and teens and under-25's spending the least time.
Users over 35 years old, are more active than the average. Users below that age, spend below average amounts of time in Second Life.
Females spent nearly twice as long online in Second Life in February as the boys - another trend which continues steady each month. In short, the average active Second Life user is most likely to be your mother (so to speak).
Total user hours for March totaled a record 30,625,176.73 hours, beating the previous March record by whopping 7.8%.
