According to new research released recently by analyst firm ABI Research, people in North America are buying nearly half the world’s tablets.

Of the estimated 39 million tablets that shipped in the first quarter of 2013, 47% of revenue from those tablets is estimated to have come from customers in North America. The first quarter of 2013 is estimated to have had the second largest shipment volume of tablets ever, just behind the holiday 2012 quarter preceding it. The runner-up is western Europe, which accounts for 29% of tablet revenues. The Asia-Pacific region comes next with 21%, and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa together account for only 2% of tablet revenues.

“Three regions of the world are expected to yield 97% of tablet revenues in 2013,” said Jeff Orr, senior practice director at ABI Research. “North America is forecasted to claim nearly half of the estimated $72 billion expected to be spent this year on tablet devices. Western Europe and Asia-Pacific will also have their hands in the honey pot for a combined 50% of world tablet revenues, respectively.”

ABI Research pointed to Windows 8 tablets as a large source of tablet revenue growth in North America. Windows 8 tablets often sell for significantly more than other tablets, though Microsoft’s Surface tablet failed to compete significantly against Apple’s iPad and other Android-based tablets.

“The average selling prices for Windows 8 and Windows RT are higher than other platforms, which is keeping price erosion minimized,” said Orr.