Adoption of communication technologies in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Adoption of communication technologies was 6.71 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Adoption of communication technologies in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2024
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 Saudi Arabia is 6.71 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 35.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in Saudi Arabia peaked at 6.79 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 93,600, in 1970.
Saudi Arabia ranks 20th 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 93,600 | — |
| 1971 | 93,600 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 93,600 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 93,600 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 93,600 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 138,000 | +47.4% |
| 1976 | 141,000 | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 153,000 | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 196,938 | +28.7% |
| 1979 | 277,288 | +40.8% |
| 1980 | 319,576 | +15.3% |
| 1981 | 512,205 | +60.3% |
| 1982 | 693,799 | +35.5% |
| 1983 | 790,711 | +14.0% |
| 1984 | 889,966 | +12.6% |
| 1985 | 905,909 | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 957,357 | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 1.00 million | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 1.07 million | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 1.12 million | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 1.23 million | +9.7% |
| 1991 | 1.47 million | +18.8% |
| 1992 | 1.57 million | +7.0% |
| 1993 | 1.61 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 1.68 million | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 1.72 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 1.80 million | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 1.88 million | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 2.17 million | +15.4% |
| 1999 | 2.71 million | +24.9% |
| 2000 | 2.96 million | +9.6% |
| 2001 | 3.23 million | +9.0% |
| 2002 | 3.42 million | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 3.50 million | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 3.70 million | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 3.84 million | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 3.95 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 4.00 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 4.10 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 4.17 million | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 4.17 million | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 4.63 million | +11.2% |
| 2012 | 4.80 million | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 4.94 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 3.75 million | -24.1% |
| 2016 | 4.24 million | +13.1% |
| 2017 | 4.66 million | +9.9% |
| 2018 | 5.39 million | +15.6% |
| 2019 | 5.38 million | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 5.75 million | +6.9% |
| 2021 | 6.59 million | +14.7% |
| 2022 | 6.77 million | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 6.79 million | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 6.71 million | -1.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 6.71 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 445,236, 15.1× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 6.71 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.22 million, 5.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +60.3% | 319,576 | 512,205 |
| 1975 | +47.4% | 93,600 | 138,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 137,423 | 93,600 | 277,288 | 10 |
| 1980s | 826,761 | 319,576 | 1.12 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.78 million | 1.23 million | 2.71 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.69 million | 2.96 million | 4.17 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.66 million | 3.75 million | 5.39 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 6.52 million | 5.75 million | 6.79 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More reference data data for Saudi Arabia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adoption of communication technologies in Saudi Arabia?
- Adoption of communication technologies in Saudi Arabia was 6.71 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.79 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 93,600 in 1970.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 20th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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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CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).