Adoption of communication technologies in Ireland
Ireland: Adoption of communication technologies was 1.08 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.08 million
Change on year
down 8.4%
World rank
66th
of 212 countries
All-time high
2.26 million
in 2007
All-time low
110,625
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Adoption of communication technologies in Ireland, 1960–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 1.08 million for adoption of communication technologies in 2024.
That represents a change of down 8.4% on the previous year and down 46.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in Ireland peaked at 2.26 million in 2007 and was at its lowest, 110,625, in 1960.
That places Ireland 66th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 110,625 | — |
| 1961 | 110,625 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 110,625 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 110,625 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 110,625 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 165,000 | +49.2% |
| 1966 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 165,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 234,000 | +41.8% |
| 1971 | 234,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 234,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 234,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 234,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 330,000 | +41.0% |
| 1976 | 357,000 | +8.2% |
| 1977 | 386,000 | +8.1% |
| 1978 | 412,000 | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 436,000 | +5.8% |
| 1980 | 483,000 | +10.8% |
| 1981 | 536,000 | +11.0% |
| 1982 | 579,600 | +8.1% |
| 1983 | 613,459 | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 669,267 | +9.1% |
| 1985 | 703,000 | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 750,805 | +6.8% |
| 1987 | 796,204 | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 842,677 | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 916,000 | +8.7% |
| 1990 | 983,000 | +7.3% |
| 1991 | 1.05 million | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 1.11 million | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 1.17 million | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 1.24 million | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 1.31 million | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 1.39 million | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 1.56 million | +12.1% |
| 1998 | 1.63 million | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 1.74 million | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 1.83 million | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 1.86 million | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 1.98 million | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 1.96 million | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 2.02 million | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 2.05 million | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 2.18 million | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 2.26 million | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 2.22 million | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 2.13 million | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 2.08 million | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 2.05 million | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 2.01 million | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 2.03 million | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 2.02 million | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 1.93 million | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 1.92 million | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 1.87 million | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 1.83 million | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 1.77 million | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 1.68 million | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 1.29 million | -22.9% |
| 2022 | 1.22 million | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 1.18 million | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 1.08 million | -8.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 1.08 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 445,236, 2.4× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 1.08 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 734,202, 1.5× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies in Ireland 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 | +49.2% | 110,625 | 165,000 |
| 1970 | +41.8% | 165,000 | 234,000 |
| 1975 | +41.0% | 234,000 | 330,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 137,812 | 110,625 | 165,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 309,100 | 234,000 | 436,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 689,001 | 483,000 | 916,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.32 million | 983,000 | 1.74 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.05 million | 1.83 million | 2.26 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.95 million | 1.77 million | 2.08 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.29 million | 1.08 million | 1.68 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 63 Czechia 1.16 million compare
- 64 Dominican Republic 1.15 million compare
- 65 Croatia 1.10 million compare
- 67 South Africa 1.01 million compare
- 68 Lebanon 924,461 compare
- 69 El Salvador 885,101 compare
More reference data data for Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0921 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies in Ireland?
- Adoption of communication technologies in Ireland was 1.08 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.26 million in 2007.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 110,625 in 1960.
- How does Ireland rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- Ireland ranks 66th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.
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