Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in South Korea
South Korea: Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people was 41.17 per 100 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
41.17 per 100 people
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
21st
of 212 countries
All-time high
60.68 per 100 people
in 2012
All-time low
0.7561 per 100 people
in 1965
Years of data
60
1965–2024
Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in South Korea, 1965–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 100 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in South Korea is 41.17 per 100 people, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in South Korea peaked at 60.68 per 100 people in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.7561 per 100 people, in 1965.
That places South Korea 21st out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in South Korea, year by year
| Year | per 100 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.7561 per 100 people | — |
| 1966 | 0.7636 per 100 people | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 0.7636 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.7636 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.7636 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.48 per 100 people | +93.3% |
| 1971 | 1.49 per 100 people | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 1.49 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.49 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.49 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 2.94 per 100 people | +97.0% |
| 1976 | 3.49 per 100 people | +18.4% |
| 1977 | 4.16 per 100 people | +19.5% |
| 1978 | 5.03 per 100 people | +20.9% |
| 1979 | 6.08 per 100 people | +20.7% |
| 1980 | 7.09 per 100 people | +16.6% |
| 1981 | 8.43 per 100 people | +18.9% |
| 1982 | 10.35 per 100 people | +22.9% |
| 1983 | 12.01 per 100 people | +16.0% |
| 1984 | 13.76 per 100 people | +14.6% |
| 1985 | 15.81 per 100 people | +14.9% |
| 1986 | 17.99 per 100 people | +13.8% |
| 1987 | 20.34 per 100 people | +13.1% |
| 1988 | 23.97 per 100 people | +17.9% |
| 1989 | 27.07 per 100 people | +12.9% |
| 1990 | 30.1 per 100 people | +11.2% |
| 1991 | 32.8 per 100 people | +9.0% |
| 1992 | 34.9 per 100 people | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 37.2 per 100 people | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 39.1 per 100 people | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 41 per 100 people | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 42.9 per 100 people | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 44.5 per 100 people | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 43.5 per 100 people | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 55.1 per 100 people | +26.7% |
| 2000 | 55.3 per 100 people | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 54.79 per 100 people | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 54.41 per 100 people | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 52.88 per 100 people | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 49.41 per 100 people | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 49.96 per 100 people | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 46.73 per 100 people | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 47.75 per 100 people | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 50.37 per 100 people | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 55.4 per 100 people | +10.0% |
| 2010 | 58.53 per 100 people | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 59.98 per 100 people | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 60.68 per 100 people | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 60.58 per 100 people | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 58.33 per 100 people | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 56.65 per 100 people | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 54.65 per 100 people | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 52.14 per 100 people | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 50.17 per 100 people | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 47.77 per 100 people | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 46.01 per 100 people | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 44.77 per 100 people | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 44.05 per 100 people | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 42.81 per 100 people | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 41.17 per 100 people | -3.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 41.17 per 100 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 24.32 per 100 people, 1.7× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 41.17 per 100 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10.82 per 100 people, 3.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +97.0% | 1.49 per 100 people | 2.94 per 100 people |
| 1970 | +93.3% | 0.7636 per 100 people | 1.48 per 100 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7621 per 100 people | 0.7561 per 100 people | 0.7636 per 100 people | 5 |
| 1970s | 2.92 per 100 people | 1.48 per 100 people | 6.08 per 100 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.68 per 100 people | 7.09 per 100 people | 27.07 per 100 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.11 per 100 people | 30.1 per 100 people | 55.1 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.7 per 100 people | 46.73 per 100 people | 55.4 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.95 per 100 people | 47.77 per 100 people | 60.68 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.76 per 100 people | 41.17 per 100 people | 46.01 per 100 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in South Korea?
- Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in South Korea was 41.17 per 100 people in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest adoption of communication technologies per 100 people recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 60.68 per 100 people in 2012.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies per 100 people recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7561 per 100 people in 1965.
- How does South Korea rank for adoption of communication technologies per 100 people?
- South Korea ranks 21st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies per 100 people rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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