Worldwide paper consumption, according to the World Resources Institute, has been growing every year since the Internet entered the scene. The table below shows the paper consumption per capita for the world.
However, paper consumption in the US has been declining in almost every year since it peaked in 1999 (see below). It has increased in years where the economy has been good since 1999, and declined when the economy is bad. I’ll bet there’s been a severe decline in 2009.
International Per Capita Paper consumption
Year . kilograms/person/year
2005 54.48
2004 55.41
2003 54.17
2002 53.2
2001 52.73
2000 53.49
1999 53.37
1998 50.57
1997 51.34
1996 49.01
1995 48.72
1994 47.44
1993 45.43
1992 45.13
1991 45.09
1990 45.48
1989 45.15
1988 44.48
1987 42.86
1986 41.29
1985 39.71
1984 39.82
1983 37.67
1982 36.43
1981 37.59
1980 38.04
1979 38.53
1978 37.3
1977 35.96
1976 35.4
1975 32.06
1974 37.39
1973 37.66
1972 35.71
1971 34.1
1970 34.04
1969 33.79
1968 32.04
1967 30.32
1966 30.63
1965 29.12
1964 28.07
1963 26.72
1962 25.69
1961 25.15
United States Per Capita Paper consumption
2005 297.05
2004 306.57
2003 304.16
2002 309.14
2001 308.07
2000 328.67
1999 340.47
1998 330.03
1997 337.49
1996 319.07
1995 333.45
1994 321.91
1993 309.95
1992 302.85
1991 298
1990 306.26
1989 301.65
1988 306.89
1987 303.38
1986 291.81
1985 280.48
1984 286.06
1983 265.87
1982 249.55
1981 263.53
1980 262.89
1979 273.31
1978 271.98
1977 256.55
1976 249.5
1975 220.11
1974 260.23
1973 267.34
1972 257.17
1971 240.3
1970 236.79
1969 244.73
1968 232.73
1967 220.27
1966 226
1965 211.45
1964 202.61
1963 193.6
1962 190.18
1961 184.54
Source