Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people was 19.75 per 100 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
19.75 per 100 people
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
62nd
of 212 countries
All-time high
21.05 per 100 people
in 2022
All-time low
1.53 per 100 people
in 1970
Years of data
54
1970–2024
Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 100 people.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 19.75 per 100 people for adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in Saudi Arabia peaked at 21.05 per 100 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.53 per 100 people, in 1970.
Saudi Arabia ranks 62nd of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | per 100 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.53 per 100 people | — |
| 1971 | 1.6 per 100 people | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 1.6 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.6 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.6 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.75 per 100 people | +9.0% |
| 1976 | 1.69 per 100 people | -3.0% |
| 1977 | 1.75 per 100 people | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 2.14 per 100 people | +22.4% |
| 1979 | 2.86 per 100 people | +33.9% |
| 1980 | 3.14 per 100 people | +9.7% |
| 1981 | 4.8 per 100 people | +52.7% |
| 1982 | 6.19 per 100 people | +29.1% |
| 1983 | 6.73 per 100 people | +8.7% |
| 1984 | 7.23 per 100 people | +7.4% |
| 1985 | 7.03 per 100 people | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 7.1 per 100 people | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 7.13 per 100 people | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 7.27 per 100 people | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 7.33 per 100 people | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 11.6 per 100 people | +58.4% |
| 1991 | 13.1 per 100 people | +12.9% |
| 1992 | 13.4 per 100 people | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 13.2 per 100 people | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 13.1 per 100 people | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 12.9 per 100 people | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 13 per 100 people | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 13.1 per 100 people | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 14.5 per 100 people | +10.7% |
| 1999 | 17.5 per 100 people | +20.7% |
| 2000 | 18.33 per 100 people | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 18.97 per 100 people | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 19.08 per 100 people | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 18.64 per 100 people | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 18.79 per 100 people | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 18.7 per 100 people | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 18.41 per 100 people | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 17.86 per 100 people | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 17.61 per 100 people | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 17.22 per 100 people | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 16.56 per 100 people | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 17.75 per 100 people | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 17.74 per 100 people | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 17.62 per 100 people | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 12.5 per 100 people | -29.1% |
| 2016 | 13.8 per 100 people | +10.4% |
| 2017 | 15.14 per 100 people | +9.7% |
| 2018 | 17.74 per 100 people | +17.2% |
| 2019 | 17.65 per 100 people | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 18.55 per 100 people | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 21.05 per 100 people | +13.5% |
| 2022 | 21.05 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 20.41 per 100 people | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 19.75 per 100 people | -3.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 19.75 per 100 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 24.32 per 100 people, 81% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 19.75 per 100 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.83 per 100 people, 1.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +58.4% | 7.33 per 100 people | 11.6 per 100 people |
| 1981 | +52.7% | 3.14 per 100 people | 4.8 per 100 people |
| 1979 | +33.9% | 2.14 per 100 people | 2.86 per 100 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.81 per 100 people | 1.53 per 100 people | 2.86 per 100 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.39 per 100 people | 3.14 per 100 people | 7.33 per 100 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.54 per 100 people | 11.6 per 100 people | 17.5 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.36 per 100 people | 17.22 per 100 people | 19.08 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.28 per 100 people | 12.5 per 100 people | 17.75 per 100 people | 9 |
| 2020s | 20.16 per 100 people | 18.55 per 100 people | 21.05 per 100 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 59 United Arab Emirates 20.8 per 100 people compare
- 60 Ireland 20.51 per 100 people compare
- 61 American Samoa 20.05 per 100 people compare
- 63 Trinidad and Tobago 19.75 per 100 people compare
- 64 Suriname 19.56 per 100 people compare
- 65 Bosnia and Herzegovina 18.43 per 100 people compare
More reference data data for Saudi Arabia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in Saudi Arabia?
- Adoption of communication technologies per 100 people in Saudi Arabia was 19.75 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.05 per 100 people in 2022.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies per 100 people recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.53 per 100 people in 1970.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for adoption of communication technologies per 100 people?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 62nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies per 100 people rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.
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