Adoption of communication technologies in Malaysia
Malaysia: Adoption of communication technologies was 8.22 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
8.22 million
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
18th
of 212 countries
All-time high
8.46 million
in 2022
All-time low
48,021
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Adoption of communication technologies in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia is 8.22 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 86.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in Malaysia peaked at 8.46 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 48,021, in 1960.
That places Malaysia 18th 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 48,021 | — |
| 1961 | 48,021 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 48,021 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 48,021 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 48,021 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 79,000 | +64.5% |
| 1966 | 79,000 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 79,000 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 79,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 79,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 104,000 | +31.6% |
| 1971 | 104,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 104,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 104,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 104,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 169,000 | +62.5% |
| 1976 | 194,259 | +14.9% |
| 1977 | 227,564 | +17.1% |
| 1978 | 271,010 | +19.1% |
| 1979 | 325,154 | +20.0% |
| 1980 | 395,640 | +21.7% |
| 1981 | 488,670 | +23.5% |
| 1982 | 585,390 | +19.8% |
| 1983 | 700,097 | +19.6% |
| 1984 | 849,129 | +21.3% |
| 1985 | 958,598 | +12.9% |
| 1986 | 1.04 million | +8.8% |
| 1987 | 1.13 million | +8.5% |
| 1988 | 1.25 million | +10.2% |
| 1989 | 1.39 million | +11.3% |
| 1990 | 1.59 million | +14.2% |
| 1991 | 1.82 million | +14.6% |
| 1992 | 2.09 million | +15.1% |
| 1993 | 2.41 million | +15.3% |
| 1994 | 2.86 million | +18.8% |
| 1995 | 3.33 million | +16.4% |
| 1996 | 3.77 million | +13.2% |
| 1997 | 4.22 million | +12.0% |
| 1998 | 4.38 million | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 4.43 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 4.63 million | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 4.71 million | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 4.67 million | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 4.57 million | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 4.45 million | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 4.37 million | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 4.34 million | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 4.35 million | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 4.51 million | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 4.52 million | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 4.61 million | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 4.52 million | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 4.59 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 4.54 million | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 4.41 million | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 4.49 million | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 4.84 million | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 6.58 million | +36.0% |
| 2018 | 7.43 million | +12.9% |
| 2019 | 7.41 million | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 7.47 million | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 8.25 million | +10.4% |
| 2022 | 8.46 million | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 8.40 million | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 8.22 million | -2.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 8.22 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 734,874, 11.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 8.22 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81,260, 101.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies in Malaysia 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 | +64.5% | 48,021 | 79,000 |
| 1975 | +62.5% | 104,000 | 169,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 63,510 | 48,021 | 79,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 170,699 | 104,000 | 325,154 | 10 |
| 1980s | 878,794 | 395,640 | 1.39 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.09 million | 1.59 million | 4.43 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.51 million | 4.34 million | 4.71 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.34 million | 4.41 million | 7.43 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.16 million | 7.47 million | 8.46 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More reference data data for Malaysia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7102 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5869 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1487 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.8098 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies in Malaysia?
- Adoption of communication technologies in Malaysia was 8.22 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.46 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 48,021 in 1960.
- How does Malaysia rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- Malaysia ranks 18th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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).