Adoption of communication technologies in South Korea
South Korea: Adoption of communication technologies was 21.29 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
21.29 million
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
11th
of 212 countries
All-time high
30.33 million
in 2013
All-time low
220,635
in 1965
Years of data
60
1965–2024
Adoption of communication technologies in South Korea, 1965–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, adoption of communication technologies in South Korea stood at 21.29 million.
That represents a change of down 3.9% on the previous year and down 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in South Korea peaked at 30.33 million in 2013 and was at its lowest, 220,635, in 1965.
South Korea ranks 11th of 212 countries on this measure, 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 220,635 | — |
| 1966 | 220,635 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 220,635 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 220,635 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 220,635 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 481,207 | +118.1% |
| 1971 | 481,207 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 481,207 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 481,207 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 481,207 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.06 million | +119.9% |
| 1976 | 1.27 million | +20.1% |
| 1977 | 1.54 million | +21.0% |
| 1978 | 1.88 million | +22.3% |
| 1979 | 2.29 million | +22.0% |
| 1980 | 2.70 million | +18.0% |
| 1981 | 3.26 million | +20.7% |
| 1982 | 4.08 million | +25.0% |
| 1983 | 4.81 million | +17.9% |
| 1984 | 5.59 million | +16.3% |
| 1985 | 6.52 million | +16.5% |
| 1986 | 7.52 million | +15.4% |
| 1987 | 8.63 million | +14.7% |
| 1988 | 10.31 million | +19.5% |
| 1989 | 11.79 million | +14.4% |
| 1990 | 13.28 million | +12.6% |
| 1991 | 14.57 million | +9.8% |
| 1992 | 15.59 million | +7.0% |
| 1993 | 16.69 million | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 17.65 million | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 18.60 million | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 19.60 million | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 20.42 million | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 20.09 million | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 25.62 million | +27.5% |
| 2000 | 25.86 million | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 25.77 million | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 25.73 million | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 25.13 million | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 23.57 million | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 23.91 million | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 22.43 million | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 23.01 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 24.36 million | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 26.89 million | +10.4% |
| 2010 | 28.54 million | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 29.47 million | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 30.10 million | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 30.33 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 29.48 million | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 28.88 million | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 28.04 million | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 26.84 million | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 25.91 million | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 24.73 million | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 23.86 million | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 23.21 million | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 22.81 million | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 22.16 million | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 21.29 million | -3.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 21.29 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 445,236, 47.8× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 21.29 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81,260, 262.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies in South Korea 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 | +119.9% | 481,207 | 1.06 million |
| 1970 | +118.1% | 220,635 | 481,207 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 220,635 | 220,635 | 220,635 | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.04 million | 481,207 | 2.29 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.52 million | 2.70 million | 11.79 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.21 million | 13.28 million | 25.62 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.67 million | 22.43 million | 26.89 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.23 million | 24.73 million | 30.33 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.67 million | 21.29 million | 23.86 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies in South Korea?
- Adoption of communication technologies in South Korea was 21.29 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 30.33 million in 2013.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 220,635 in 1965.
- How does South Korea rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- South Korea ranks 11th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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 — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).