Adoption of communication technologies in Canada
Canada: Adoption of communication technologies was 10.97 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
10.97 million
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
16th
of 212 countries
All-time high
21.13 million
in 2001
All-time low
4.99 million
in 1961
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Adoption of communication technologies in Canada, 1960–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, adoption of communication technologies in Canada stood at 10.97 million.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in Canada peaked at 21.13 million in 2001 and was at its lowest, 4.99 million, in 1961.
That places Canada 16th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Adoption of communication technologies in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.99 million | — |
| 1961 | 4.99 million | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 4.99 million | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 4.99 million | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 4.99 million | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 5.27 million | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 5.27 million | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 5.27 million | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 5.27 million | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 5.27 million | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 6.51 million | +23.6% |
| 1971 | 6.51 million | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 6.51 million | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 6.51 million | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 6.51 million | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 8.28 million | +27.1% |
| 1976 | 8.61 million | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 8.92 million | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 9.27 million | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 9.60 million | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 9.98 million | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 10.29 million | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 10.34 million | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 10.47 million | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 11.83 million | +13.0% |
| 1985 | 12.48 million | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 12.95 million | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 13.44 million | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 13.98 million | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 14.65 million | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 15.30 million | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 15.81 million | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 16.25 million | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 16.72 million | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 17.25 million | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 17.57 million | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 17.97 million | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 18.66 million | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 19.29 million | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 20.38 million | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 20.84 million | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 21.13 million | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 20.62 million | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 20.61 million | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 20.56 million | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 18.15 million | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 18.24 million | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 18.28 million | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 18.25 million | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 18.71 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 18.39 million | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 18.27 million | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 17.73 million | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 16.92 million | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 16.40 million | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 15.61 million | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 15.16 million | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 14.47 million | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 13.84 million | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 13.60 million | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 13.34 million | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 12.19 million | -8.6% |
| 2022 | 11.42 million | -6.3% |
| 2023 | 11.30 million | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 10.97 million | -2.9% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 10.97 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 445,236, 24.6× the median. (82 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies in Canada 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 | +27.1% | 6.51 million | 8.28 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.13 million | 4.99 million | 5.27 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.72 million | 6.51 million | 9.60 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.04 million | 9.98 million | 14.65 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.52 million | 15.30 million | 20.38 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.54 million | 18.15 million | 21.13 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.04 million | 13.60 million | 18.39 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.84 million | 10.97 million | 13.34 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies in Canada?
- Adoption of communication technologies in Canada was 10.97 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 21.13 million in 2001.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.99 million in 1961.
- How does Canada rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- Canada ranks 16th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada 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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