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Do you stay up late into the night using the internet? Are you grumpy or anxious when you can't log on?

Then you may be addicted to the internet - an affliction that, according to new research, now affects 6 per cent of people - roughly 182 million - around the world.

By studying previous academic papers that referenced the addiction, and comparing this to internet penetration figures for each country, they also found the Middle East is the most addicted region of the world.  

Researchers searched online databases for previous academic papers that referenced internet addiction. From this, they chose 80 global studies, covering reports of addiction across 31 nations in seven regions. The study revealed that the prevalence of internet addiction across these 31 nations averaged at 6 per cent

A pair of researchers from the University of Hong Kong began by searching online databases for previous academic papers. 

They specifically searched for papers that referenced terms such as internet addiction and dependency, and online and net addicts.

From this, Cecelia Cheng and Angel Yee-lam Li  chose 80 global studies, covering reports of web addiction across 31 nations in seven regions.

This included the US, Australia, Austria, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Iran, Isarel, Lebanon, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Columbia.

As part of these past studies, a total of 544 participants were surveyed about their internet habits.

There was almost a 50/50 split between the genders - 49 per cent were male – and the average age was 18.42 years.

This data was combined with each nation's gross domestic product, internet penetration and reported number of web users.

The study revealed that the prevalence rate of internet addiction across these 31 nations averaged at 6 per cent.

The highest incidents of web addiction were found in the Middle East, at 10.9 per cent, which included Iran, Israel, Lebanon and Turkey. 

The highest incidents of web addiction were found in the Middle East, at 10.9%. The lowest prevalence was reports in North and West Europe on 2.6 per cent. North America had a prevalence rate of 8%, Asia had 7.1%, this was followed by South and East Europe on 6.1%, Oceania on 4.3% and no reports in South America

As part of these past studies, a total of 544 participants were surveyed about their internet habits. There was almost a 50/50 split between the genders - 49 per cent were male - and the average age was 18.42 years. This chart shows the prevalence rate in the regions, and the number of people studied (k)

The lowest prevalence was reported in North and West Europe on 2.6 per cent, by comparison South and East Europe was on 6.1 per cent.

North America had an internet addiction prevalence rate of 8 per cent, Oceania was on 4.3 per cent and South America had no reported cases. 

However, this was due to the fact only one person from this region featured in the academic papers. 

According to the figures, 68 per cent of people in the 31 countries have access to the web, known as internet penetration rate (IPR).

IPR was highest in Oceania, at 89 per cent, and lowest in the Middle East on 55 per cent.

This suggests that despite fewer people having access to the web in the Middle East, those who are, are more likely to be addicted to the internet.

The findings are published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. 

Dr Richard Graham, who runs a technology addiction programme at London's Capio Nightingale Hospital told MailOnline: 'The internet provides rewards of various sorts and the most fundamental is freedom to express yourself in ways that you can't in the real world, whether it be through Twitter, Facebook or uploading content onto YouTube or responding to news articles. 

'People use it to de-stress and are able to find ways of expressing themselves that might be anonymous providing a space to be at ease being themselves or venting feelings. 

'However, this creates a risk that we don't confront important issues more directly.' 

And it's not just an addiction to the web that is becoming more prevalent, technology addiction goes hand-in-hand with a constant need to be online.  

Researchers recently recruited seven people to go without their gadgets for a week. The participants recorded each time they had an impulse to use their phones and how they felt when they couldn't. There were 11 instances of high anxiety and 16 of high frustration when not being allowed to make calls or texts, pictured

Research from FrontRange recently found that more than half of gadget owners (53 per cent) worldwide admit to suffering anxiety when they can't use their phones and added having a tech detox was 'as stressful as a trip to the dentist or even their own wedding day.'

The number of people being treated for this addiction has risen over the past year and around 1 in 8 people in the UK now exhibit signs of being hooked on their gadgets.

To test the extent at which technology is ruling people's lives, software firm FrontRange surveyed more than 800 smartphone owners globally to see how they felt about technology usage and addiction.

Almost 85 per cent of participants said they believe smartphone addiction does exist and 71 per cent claimed to know someone who might be addicted to their gadgets.

Almost half said they use their phone at least once every hour and two thirds claimed they couldn't go without their smartphones for a day.

'When people feel an uncomfortable sense of withdrawal when not online, we know that the relationship with technology is not being managed properly,' continued Dr Graham.

The researchers then recruited seven people to go without their gadgets - except in emergencies – for seven days.

Over the course of this week the participants were asked to record each time they had an impulse to use their phones and why they wanted to use it.

They were also asked to record the emotions they felt when they couldn't use it, including frustration, anxiety and inconvenience.

People experienced a 39 per cent increase in frustration levels when they couldn't check their emails or social networks, yet were 79 per more anxious when they couldn't call or text people.

During the seven-day trial there were 11 instances of high anxiety and 16 instances of high frustration when not being allowed to make calls or send texts.

When told they couldn't use apps, check their emails or use other smartphone-specific features, there were just fewer instances of high anxiety (five) and high frustration (6), yet the mild instances of frustration were almost double.

All of the responses to these questions were then combined each day to find a ratio of times when participants felt most inconvenienced.

The research found that more than half of gadget owners worldwide admit to suffering anxiety when they can't use their phones and added having a tech detox was 'as stressful as a trip to the dentist or even their own wedding day.' A fifth said they'd only give up their phones if someone paid them $500 (£300)

The emotional responses were then combined to find a ratio of times when the participants were most inconvenienced. Inconvenience levels were at their lowest on a Wednesday, with a score of 1.7 and highest midweek on a Thursday peaking at 7.0

Inconvenience levels were at their lowest on the Wednesday, with a score of 1.7 and highest midweek on the Thursday - peaking at 7.0.

Kristin Tynski, product manager at FrontRange believes this is because the participants were 'tired of having to rely on non-mobile devices' such as computers for email and social media, when they could usually use app for such things.

She added that Thursday was also the midway point of the trial and many may have been feeling the strain of their smartphone detox.

Saturday afternoon was the second most inconvenient time to not have a phone when levels reached 4.2.

This chart shows the varying levels of anxiety, frustration and inconvenience over the seven-day trial. Frustration (red) was lowest when inconvenience peaked (yellow). Anxiety levels (blue) stayed relatively steady, in comparison, but were higher by the end of the week

However, over the course of a week frustration levels dropped from 3.31 on Monday to 1.5 by the following Sunday which the researchers claim suggests it is possible for people to wean themselves off technology over a short period of time.

One subject said the urge to check their phone was strongest when they saw someone else checking theirs. Another said it felt 'really good' not to feel like they were on call at all times.

Dr Graham continued: 'The benefits of the technologies we all use on a daily basis are clear to see. However, in a short period of time the world we all inhabit has drastically changed and we have had little time to adapt.

'Unfortunately unhealthy relationships with technology such as phones, computers and games can cause destructive consequences; physically and psychologically. Lives can be impaired by extensive and unregulated time online, on-screen or in-game.'