Individuals using the Internet in South Korea

South Korea: Individuals using the Internet was 97.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
97.9%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
14th
of 208 countries
All-time high
97.9%
in 2024
All-time low
0.0%
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Individuals using the Internet in South Korea, 1990–2024

0204060801001990200720241990: 0.023 % of population1991: 0.046 % of population1992: 0.098 % of population1993: 0.25 % of population1994: 0.311 % of population1995: 0.82 % of population1996: 1.6 % of population1997: 3.6 % of population1998: 6.8 % of population1999: 23.6 % of population2000: 44.7 % of population2001: 56.6 % of population2002: 59.4 % of population2003: 65.5 % of population2004: 72.7 % of population2005: 73.5 % of population2006: 78.1 % of population2007: 78.8 % of population2008: 81 % of population2009: 81.6 % of population2010: 83.7 % of population2011: 83.8 % of population2012: 84.1 % of population2013: 84.8 % of population2014: 87.6 % of population2015: 89.9 % of population2016: 92.8 % of population2017: 95.1 % of population2018: 96 % of population2019: 96.2 % of population2020: 96.5 % of population2021: 97.6 % of population2022: 97.2 % of population2023: 97.4 % of population2024: 97.9 % of population

Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Measured in % of population.

Analysis

South Korea recorded 97.9% for individuals using the internet in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, individuals using the internet in South Korea peaked at 97.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1990.

That places South Korea 14th out of 208 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3.7% 0.0% 23.6% 10
2000s 69.2% 44.7% 81.6% 10
2010s 89.4% 83.7% 96.2% 10
2020s 97.3% 96.5% 97.9% 5

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 11 Iceland 98.2% compare
  2. 12 Qatar 98.1% compare
  3. 13 Malaysia 98.0% compare
  4. 15 Faroe Islands 97.6% compare
  5. 16 San Marino 97.4% compare
  6. 17 Switzerland 97.3% compare

See the full ranking of 240 places →

More infrastructure data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is individuals using the internet in South Korea?
Individuals using the internet in South Korea was 97.9% in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
What is the highest individuals using the internet recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 97.9% in 2024.
What is the lowest individuals using the internet recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
How does South Korea rank for individuals using the internet?
South Korea ranks 14th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
Is individuals using the internet rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Individuals using the Internet (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator
Individuals using the Internet (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
240 places, 6,889 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc.