Digital Adoption in South Korea
97.9% internet penetration · EGDI rank 4 of 193
This profile brings together internet use, financial inclusion and UN e-government indicators for South Korea, with source years shown alongside each figure.
Internet and Connectivity
97.9% of South Korea's population used the internet in 2024, among the highest rates recorded anywhere. Mobile subscriptions run at 162.1 per 100 people, reflecting a market where multiple active devices per person is common, while fixed broadband, at 46.57 per 100 people, is denser than almost any other country tracked by the World Bank. A verified figure for active mobile broadband specifically was not available from the sources checked for this page.
| Connectivity indicator | South Korea | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals using the internet | 97.9% | 2024 |
| Mobile cellular subscriptions, per 100 people | 162.1 | 2023 |
| Fixed broadband subscriptions, per 100 people | 46.57 | 2023 |
Digital Payments
Financial-inclusion indicators are shown separately from connectivity measures because they describe account ownership or payment use.
| Payments and financial inclusion | South Korea | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Adults with a financial account | 96.9% | 2024 |
| Adults with a debit card | 84% | 2021 |
| Adults with a credit card | 68.4% | 2021 |
| Credit cards' share of card payment value | 79.9% | 2024 |
Digital Government
South Korea ranked 4 of 193 UN member states in the 2024 E-Government Development Index, with an EGDI score of 0.9679.
| UN E-Government Development Index | South Korea |
|---|---|
| EGDI score | 0.9679 |
| Global rank | 4 |
South Korea vs. Region and World
This comparison uses internet penetration because it provides a same-source, same-year benchmark for South Korea, East Asia & Pacific, and the world.
| Indicator | South Korea | East Asia & Pacific | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet use, 2024 | 97.9% | 86.6% | 71.2% |
Key Takeaways
- Fixed broadband density, at 46.57 subscriptions per 100 people, is among the highest recorded anywhere.
- Card payments dominate consumer spending, with the average person holding more than six cards and using them almost daily.
- A 4th-place UN e-government rank reflects sustained performance across multiple survey cycles, not a recent jump.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of South Korea's population uses the internet?
97.9% in 2024, per World Bank data sourced from the International Telecommunication Union.
How dense is South Korea's fixed broadband market?
46.57 subscriptions per 100 people in 2023, one of the highest fixed broadband rates recorded anywhere.
What is South Korea's rank in the UN E-Government Development Index?
South Korea ranked 4 of 193 UN member states in 2024, with an EGDI score of 0.9679.
How do South Koreans pay for things?
Mostly by card. Credit cards made up an estimated 79.9% of card payment value in 2024.
Sources & methodology
Sources for the indicators and definitions shown above.
View sources used for this page
Account ownership, 2024; debit- and credit-card ownership figures shown on this page are older 2021 survey observations where retained.
Credit cards' share of card payment transaction value, 2024.
EGDI score and global rank, covering all 193 UN member states. Component indices were not individually confirmed for South Korea.
Data note: Indicators are shown with their published reference years.