Adoption of communication technologies in Belgium
Belgium: Adoption of communication technologies was 2.49 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
2.49 million
Change on year
down 10.1%
World rank
43rd
of 212 countries
All-time high
5.13 million
in 2001
All-time low
779,262
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Adoption of communication technologies in Belgium, 1960–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 2.49 million for adoption of communication technologies in 2024.
The figure is down 10.1% on the previous year and down 45.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in Belgium peaked at 5.13 million in 2001 and was at its lowest, 779,262, in 1960.
Belgium ranks 43rd of 212 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Adoption of communication technologies in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 779,262 | — |
| 1961 | 779,262 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 779,262 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 779,262 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 779,262 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1.05 million | +34.7% |
| 1966 | 1.05 million | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1.05 million | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.05 million | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1.05 million | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.34 million | +28.0% |
| 1971 | 1.34 million | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1.34 million | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.34 million | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.34 million | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.85 million | +37.7% |
| 1976 | 1.94 million | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 2.05 million | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 2.18 million | +6.2% |
| 1979 | 2.32 million | +6.4% |
| 1980 | 2.44 million | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 2.59 million | +5.9% |
| 1982 | 2.72 million | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 2.82 million | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 2.92 million | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 3.03 million | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 3.23 million | +6.4% |
| 1987 | 3.37 million | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 3.53 million | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 3.71 million | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 3.91 million | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 4.10 million | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 4.26 million | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 4.40 million | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 4.54 million | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 4.68 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 4.62 million | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 4.77 million | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 4.86 million | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 5.01 million | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 5.04 million | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 5.13 million | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 4.93 million | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 4.88 million | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 4.80 million | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 4.79 million | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 4.73 million | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 4.85 million | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 4.73 million | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 4.64 million | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 4.64 million | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 4.63 million | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 4.63 million | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 4.59 million | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 4.53 million | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 4.49 million | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 4.37 million | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 4.28 million | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 4.11 million | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 3.93 million | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 3.64 million | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 3.31 million | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 2.97 million | -10.3% |
| 2023 | 2.77 million | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 2.49 million | -10.1% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 2.49 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 445,236, 5.6× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 2.49 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 734,202, 3.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies in Belgium 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 | +37.7% | 1.34 million | 1.85 million |
| 1965 | +34.7% | 779,262 | 1.05 million |
| 1970 | +28.0% | 1.05 million | 1.34 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 914,616 | 779,262 | 1.05 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.71 million | 1.34 million | 2.32 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.04 million | 2.44 million | 3.71 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.52 million | 3.91 million | 5.01 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.85 million | 4.64 million | 5.13 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.42 million | 3.93 million | 4.64 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.03 million | 2.49 million | 3.64 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More reference data data for Belgium
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9298 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1382 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7526 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies in Belgium?
- Adoption of communication technologies in Belgium was 2.49 million 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 recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 5.13 million in 2001.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 779,262 in 1960.
- How does Belgium rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- Belgium ranks 43rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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