Adoption of communication technologies in Iceland
Iceland: Adoption of communication technologies was 68,518 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adoption of communication technologies in Iceland, 1960–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adoption of communication technologies in Iceland is 68,518, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 16.9% on the previous year and down 60.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in Iceland peaked at 199,503 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 33,000, in 1960.
Iceland ranks 143rd of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Adoption of communication technologies in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 33,000 | — |
| 1961 | 33,000 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 33,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 33,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 33,000 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 45,366 | +37.5% |
| 1966 | 45,366 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 45,366 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 45,366 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 45,366 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 57,593 | +27.0% |
| 1971 | 57,593 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 57,593 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 57,593 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 57,593 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 75,500 | +31.1% |
| 1976 | 73,900 | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 74,800 | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 77,700 | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 80,700 | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 84,837 | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 87,867 | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 91,200 | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 93,937 | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 97,245 | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 102,657 | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 113,028 | +10.1% |
| 1987 | 117,371 | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 121,650 | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 125,136 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 130,472 | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 135,559 | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 140,031 | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 143,597 | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 148,330 | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 148,675 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 156,807 | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 165,390 | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 173,673 | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 184,973 | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 196,336 | +6.1% |
| 2001 | 196,528 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 187,999 | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 192,552 | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 190,478 | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 193,852 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 188,575 | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 186,668 | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 199,503 | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 190,165 | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 193,614 | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 191,118 | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 180,004 | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 168,023 | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 171,535 | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 168,149 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 164,566 | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 146,213 | -11.2% |
| 2018 | 124,975 | -14.5% |
| 2019 | 115,992 | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 107,032 | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 100,482 | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 93,048 | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 82,491 | -11.3% |
| 2024 | 68,518 | -16.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 68,518 is below the median for high income countries, which is 445,236, 15% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 68,518 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 734,202, 9% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies in Iceland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | +37.5% | 33,000 | 45,366 |
| 1975 | +31.1% | 57,593 | 75,500 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39,183 | 33,000 | 45,366 | 10 |
| 1970s | 67,056 | 57,593 | 80,700 | 10 |
| 1980s | 103,493 | 84,837 | 125,136 | 10 |
| 1990s | 152,751 | 130,472 | 184,973 | 10 |
| 2000s | 192,266 | 186,668 | 199,503 | 10 |
| 2010s | 162,419 | 115,992 | 193,614 | 10 |
| 2020s | 90,314 | 68,518 | 107,032 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More reference data data for Iceland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0288 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0708 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0964 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2576 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.7664 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0005 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies in Iceland?
- Adoption of communication technologies in Iceland was 68,518 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 199,503 in 2008.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 33,000 in 1960.
- How does Iceland rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- Iceland ranks 143rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland 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
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).