Charity websites experienced a large growth in market share of visits over the past year, according to a new report from Hitwise, an internet measurement company.

The report, which looked at the sites visited by UK internet users, found that between November 2004 and March 2005 the number of hits on charity sites was up 118%. Humanitarian charities enjoyed the largest growth with a 336% increase in the number of visitors, a large proportion of which has been attributed to the Asian tsunami appeal.

Health and disability charities enjoyed the second largest increase in share of traffic (up 141%), and despite a drop in December compared to last year, visits to animal & wildlife charity websites rose significantly (by 50%) in February.

Oxfam, Christian Aid and NSPCC have consistently been the most searched for UK charities. This interest did not wane during or after the tsunami.

Heather Hopkins, senior research analyst at Hitwise, said: “There seems to be three reasons for this growth. One is that it is the result of the tsunami appeal as people were prompted to donate via specific websites.

“But as growth in market share was consistent over an 18 month period we also believe it is the result of charities becoming more internet savvy and doing things like linking with other sites. The fact that the public are more comfortable with donating online because of previous transactions via banking and shopping facilities has also contributed.”