Individuals using the Internet (% of population) in South Korea
South Korea: Individuals using the Internet (% of population) was 97.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Individuals using the Internet in South Korea, 1990–2024
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.
Individuals using the Internet (% of population) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | +97.9% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | +113.4% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | +154.1% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | +24.4% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | +163.7% |
| 1996 | 1.6% | +97.6% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | +122.2% |
| 1998 | 6.8% | +88.3% |
| 1999 | 23.6% | +248.1% |
| 2000 | 44.7% | +89.4% |
| 2001 | 56.6% | +26.6% |
| 2002 | 59.4% | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 65.5% | +10.3% |
| 2004 | 72.7% | +11.0% |
| 2005 | 73.5% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 78.1% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 78.8% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 81.0% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 81.6% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 83.7% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 83.8% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 84.1% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 84.8% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 87.6% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 89.9% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 92.8% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 95.1% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 96.0% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 96.2% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 96.5% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 97.6% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 97.2% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 97.4% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 97.9% | +0.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 97.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 93.1%, 1.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 97.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 80.5%, 1.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Individuals using the Internet (% of population) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +248.1% | 6.8% | 23.6% |
| 1995 | +163.7% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| 1993 | +154.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1997 | +122.2% | 1.6% | 3.6% |
| 1992 | +113.4% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1991 | +97.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 11 Iceland 98.2% compare
- 12 Qatar 98.1% compare
- 13 Malaysia 98.0% compare
- 15 Faroe Islands 97.6% compare
- 16 San Marino 97.4% compare
- 17 Switzerland 97.3% compare
More infrastructure data for South Korea
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 89.22 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 172.52 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 21.29 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 41.17 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.4114 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -3.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 21.29 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.72 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
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
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.