Adoption of communication technologies in Iran
Iran: Adoption of communication technologies was 28.23 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
28.23 million
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
8th
of 212 countries
All-time high
31.07 million
in 2017
All-time low
116,417
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Adoption of communication technologies in Iran, 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 Iran is 28.23 million, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in Iran peaked at 31.07 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 116,417, in 1960.
That places Iran 8th 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 in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 116,417 | — |
| 1961 | 116,417 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 116,417 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 116,417 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 116,417 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 200,000 | +71.8% |
| 1966 | 200,000 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 200,000 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 200,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 200,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 285,000 | +42.5% |
| 1971 | 285,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 285,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 285,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 285,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 685,000 | +140.4% |
| 1976 | 814,000 | +18.8% |
| 1977 | 830,000 | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 850,800 | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 852,840 | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 915,122 | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 1.03 million | +12.0% |
| 1982 | 1.06 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 1.12 million | +6.1% |
| 1984 | 1.20 million | +7.3% |
| 1985 | 1.32 million | +9.7% |
| 1986 | 1.48 million | +12.3% |
| 1987 | 1.66 million | +12.2% |
| 1988 | 1.88 million | +13.1% |
| 1989 | 2.03 million | +7.9% |
| 1990 | 2.20 million | +8.4% |
| 1991 | 2.46 million | +11.7% |
| 1992 | 3.00 million | +22.0% |
| 1993 | 3.60 million | +20.0% |
| 1994 | 4.32 million | +20.1% |
| 1995 | 5.09 million | +17.8% |
| 1996 | 5.82 million | +14.4% |
| 1997 | 6.50 million | +11.6% |
| 1998 | 7.35 million | +13.1% |
| 1999 | 8.37 million | +13.8% |
| 2000 | 9.49 million | +13.3% |
| 2001 | 10.90 million | +14.9% |
| 2002 | 12.89 million | +18.3% |
| 2003 | 15.34 million | +19.0% |
| 2004 | 16.34 million | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 20.34 million | +24.5% |
| 2006 | 22.63 million | +11.2% |
| 2007 | 23.84 million | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 24.80 million | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 25.80 million | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 25.82 million | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 27.77 million | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 28.76 million | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 29.69 million | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 29.38 million | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 30.42 million | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 30.87 million | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 31.07 million | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 30.48 million | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 28.95 million | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 29.09 million | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 29.31 million | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 29.34 million | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 29.02 million | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 28.23 million | -2.7% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 28.23 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 734,874, 38.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 28.23 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.22 million, 23.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies in Iran 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 | +140.4% | 285,000 | 685,000 |
| 1965 | +71.8% | 116,417 | 200,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 158,208 | 116,417 | 200,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 545,764 | 285,000 | 852,840 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.37 million | 915,122 | 2.03 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.87 million | 2.20 million | 8.37 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.24 million | 9.49 million | 25.80 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.32 million | 25.82 million | 31.07 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.00 million | 28.23 million | 29.34 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 46.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 109.46 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies in Iran?
- Adoption of communication technologies in Iran was 28.23 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 31.07 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 116,417 in 1960.
- How does Iran rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- Iran ranks 8th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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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