Device Installation Skills by Country - 2026

What percentage of people in your country can connect and install new devices like modems, cameras, or printers? This indicator measures the share of adults aged 15-74 who possess the technical skills to set up hardware devices through wired or wireless technologies. This indicator is part of a broader set of digital skills metrics, including software installation, file management, and online communication skills.

Understanding Device Installation Skills

Device installation skills represent the ability to connect and configure hardware peripherals such as modems, cameras, printers, and other devices to computers or networks. This includes both wired connections (USB, HDMI, Ethernet) and wireless technologies (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi). A rate of 50% means half the adult population can independently set up new devices, while the other half requires assistance or cannot perform these tasks.

These skills are essential for modern technology use. As homes and workplaces adopt more connected devices, the ability to install and configure hardware becomes increasingly important. People without these skills face barriers to using printers, webcams, smart home devices, and other peripherals that enhance productivity and quality of life.

Device Installation Skills by Country - 2026

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#	Country	2026 Estimate (%)
1	Saudi Arabia SA	89%
2	Brunei BN	82%
3	United Arab Emirates AE	78%
4	Luxembourg LU	75%
5	Norway NO	71%
6	Sweden SE	71%
7	Denmark DK	70%
8	Iceland IS	70%
9	Finland FI	69%
10	Malaysia MY	67%
11	South Korea KR	64%
12	Austria AT	58%
13	Bahrain BH	58%
14	Estonia EE	58%
15	United Kingdom GB	57%
16	Spain ES	55%
17	France FR	53%
18	Germany DE	53%
19	Egypt EG	52%
20	Japan JP	52%
21	Uruguay UY	52%
22	Portugal PT	51%
23	Oman OM	50%
24	Belgium BE	48%
25	Chile CL	48%
26	Netherlands NL	48%
27	Hong Kong HK	47%
28	Hungary HU	47%
29	Lithuania LT	47%
30	Greece GR	45%
31	Latvia LV	44%
32	Italy IT	43%
33	Poland PL	43%
34	Ireland IE	42%
35	Montenegro ME	42%
36	Qatar QA	42%
37	Morocco MA	41%
38	Slovenia SI	40%
39	Czech Republic CZ	39%
40	Cyprus CY	38%
41	Malta MT	38%
42	Singapore SG	38%
43	Croatia HR	36%
44	Türkiye TR	36%
45	Kuwait KW	34%
46	Ukraine UA	28%
47	Colombia CO	27%
48	North Macedonia MK	27%
49	Indonesia ID	26%
50	Mauritius MU	26%
51	Macau MO	25%
52	Bulgaria BG	24%
53	Botswana BW	22%
54	Cuba CU	22%
55	Mexico MX	22%
56	Serbia RS	22%
57	Belarus BY	20%
58	Algeria DZ	19%
59	Azerbaijan AZ	19%
60	Russia RU	18%
61	Slovakia SK	18%
62	Tunisia TN	18%
63	Uzbekistan UZ	17%
64	Romania RO	16%
65	Bosnia and Herzegovina BA	15%
66	Georgia GE	15%
67	Kazakhstan KZ	15%
68	Peru PE	15%
69	Djibouti DJ	14%
70	Brazil BR	13%
71	Curaçao CW	13%
72	Dominican Republic DO	9.5%
73	Jordan JO	9.5%
74	South Africa ZA	9.5%
75	Thailand TH	9.5%
76	Jamaica JM	9%
77	Mongolia MN	9%
78	Niger NE	9%
79	Bhutan BT	8%
80	Vietnam VN	7.5%
81	Ecuador EC	7%
82	Palestine PS	7%
83	Ivory Coast CI	6%
84	Zimbabwe ZW	5.5%
85	Iraq IQ	4.5%
86	Lesotho LS	4.5%
87	Bangladesh BD	3%
88	Cape Verde CV	3%
89	Iran IR	3%
90	Sudan SD	3%
91	Malawi MW	2%
92	Cambodia KH	1.7%
93	Pakistan PK	1.7%
94	Togo TG	1.7%

Global Leaders in Device Installation Skills

Saudi Arabia leads globally with 85.7% of adults able to install devices, followed by Brunei (80.4%) and the United Arab Emirates (76.1%). Several European countries show strong performance, with Luxembourg (72.9%), Norway (67.7%), and Sweden (67.1%) demonstrating high adoption rates. Malaysia (63.8%) and South Korea (61.4%) represent strong performers in Asia.

These high-performing countries typically combine strong technology infrastructure, widespread device ownership, and educational systems that emphasize practical digital skills. In Saudi Arabia and the UAE, rapid technology adoption and high income levels support widespread device installation capabilities.

Regional and Demographic Differences

Device installation skills vary dramatically by region and development level. Developed nations in Northern Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia show rates typically between 50-85%, indicating that most adults can independently set up hardware. Upper-middle income countries show rates between 15-50%, reflecting growing but incomplete adoption of these technical skills.

Lower-income countries show significantly lower rates, often below 10%. Cambodia, Pakistan, and Togo each show rates around 1.6%, indicating that device installation skills remain rare in these contexts. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia show the lowest regional rates, reflecting limited device ownership, infrastructure challenges, and fewer opportunities to develop these technical skills.

Within countries, device installation skills typically correlate with education level, age, and occupation. Younger adults and those in technology-related fields show higher proficiency, while older adults and those in non-technical occupations often lack these skills. Gender gaps exist in many countries, with men more likely to possess device installation skills than women.

Barriers to Device Installation Skills

Multiple barriers prevent people from developing device installation skills. Limited device ownership is fundamental—people who don't own printers, cameras, or other peripherals have no opportunity to practice installation. Economic constraints limit device purchases in lower-income countries, creating a cycle where lack of devices prevents skill development.

Technical complexity creates barriers even when devices are available. Modern devices often require understanding of network protocols, driver installation, and troubleshooting. Language barriers compound this challenge when device instructions and interfaces are not available in local languages. Older adults face particular challenges adapting to new technologies and installation procedures.

Educational gaps contribute significantly. Many education systems do not teach practical device installation skills, focusing instead on software use. Lack of technical support means people who encounter installation problems have no resources for assistance. Fear of damaging expensive devices prevents experimentation and learning.

2026 Projections and Trends

Projections for 2026 show varied patterns reflecting each country's unique circumstances. High-performing countries like Saudi Arabia (89%) and Brunei (82%) are approaching saturation levels with minimal growth potential remaining. These countries have reached the practical ceiling where further gains become increasingly difficult.

Middle-performing countries show more diverse trajectories. Malaysia continues steady growth to 67%, reflecting strong tech sector development and infrastructure investment. Hong Kong projects to 47% based on consistent recent growth. South Korea stabilizes around 64% after methodology adjustments in 2021-2022. European countries with data from 2014-2017 show realistic growth reflecting 12 years of digital transformation: Austria projects to 58%, Denmark to 70%, Germany to 53%, and Netherlands to 48%, accounting for smartphone revolution, broadband expansion, and EU digital agenda implementation during the data gap.

Lower-performing countries generally show modest improvements. Indonesia projects to 26% based on long-term growth patterns and mobile technology adoption. Russia continues gradual growth to 18%. Ukraine's projection (28%) reflects strong pre-war trends moderated by conflict impact. Ecuador is projected to decline to 7%, continuing a consistent downward trend since 2018 driven by economic constraints.

The projections reveal persistent global inequality in device installation skills. The gap between high-performing countries (80-89%) and low-performing countries (2-10%) remains substantial, suggesting that without significant infrastructure investment and educational initiatives, the digital divide in hardware setup capabilities will persist through 2026.

Device Installation Skills by Country - 2026

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#	Country	Latest Available Data (%)	2026 Estimate (%)
1	Saudi Arabia	85.7%	89%
2	Brunei	80.4%	82%
3	United Arab Emirates	76.1%	78%
4	Luxembourg	72.9%	75%
5	Norway	67.7%	71%
6	Sweden	67.1%	71%
7	Denmark	66.4%	70%
8	Iceland	66.2%	70%
9	Finland	65.8%	69%
10	Malaysia	63.8%	67%
11	South Korea	61.4%	64%
12	Austria	54.3%	58%
13	Bahrain	57.8%	58%
14	Estonia	53.3%	58%
15	United Kingdom	53%	57%
16	Spain	51.2%	55%
17	France	49.1%	53%
18	Germany	49%	53%
19	Egypt	49.9%	52%
20	Japan	51.2%	52%
21	Uruguay	50.5%	52%
22	Portugal	47.1%	51%
23	Oman	46.3%	50%
24	Belgium	45.1%	48%
25	Chile	46.4%	48%
26	Netherlands	37.5%	48%
27	Hong Kong	43.3%	47%
28	Hungary	43.4%	47%
29	Lithuania	42.9%	47%
30	Greece	42.5%	45%
31	Latvia	40.6%	44%
32	Italy	39.6%	43%
33	Poland	38.5%	43%
34	Ireland	33%	42%
35	Montenegro	37.7%	42%
36	Qatar	38.5%	42%
37	Morocco	37.9%	41%
38	Slovenia	36.5%	40%
39	Czech Republic	35%	39%
40	Cyprus	35%	38%
41	Malta	33.8%	38%
42	Singapore	35.9%	38%
43	Croatia	33.1%	36%
44	Türkiye	35.3%	36%
45	Kuwait	34.4%	34%
46	Ukraine	20.5%	28%
47	Colombia	27.3%	27%
48	North Macedonia	23.8%	27%
49	Indonesia	20.2%	26%
50	Mauritius	24%	26%
51	Macau	24.9%	25%
52	Bulgaria	20.1%	24%
53	Botswana	19.2%	22%
54	Cuba	15.2%	22%
55	Mexico	22.3%	22%
56	Serbia	21.6%	22%
57	Belarus	20%	20%
58	Algeria	16.2%	19%
59	Azerbaijan	17.8%	19%
60	Russia	16.5%	18%
61	Slovakia	17.8%	18%
62	Tunisia	17.2%	18%
63	Uzbekistan	14.9%	17%
64	Romania	12.2%	16%
65	Bosnia and Herzegovina	14.3%	15%
66	Georgia	15.1%	15%
67	Kazakhstan	14.6%	15%
68	Peru	15.2%	15%
69	Djibouti	13.1%	14%
70	Brazil	13.6%	13%
71	Curaçao	12%	13%
72	Dominican Republic	9.3%	9.5%
73	Jordan	9.1%	9.5%
74	South Africa	8.9%	9.5%
75	Thailand	9.4%	9.5%
76	Jamaica	8.3%	9%
77	Mongolia	8.9%	9%
78	Niger	8%	9%
79	Bhutan	7.2%	8%
80	Vietnam	6.7%	7.5%
81	Ecuador	9%	7%
82	Palestine	6.8%	7%
83	Ivory Coast	5.4%	6%
84	Zimbabwe	4.8%	5.5%
85	Iraq	4.3%	4.5%
86	Lesotho	4%	4.5%
87	Bangladesh	3.2%	3%
88	Cape Verde	2.7%	3%
89	Iran	3%	3%
90	Sudan	2.8%	3%
91	Malawi	1.9%	2%
92	Cambodia	1.6%	1.7%
93	Pakistan	1.6%	1.7%
94	Togo	1.6%	1.7%

Methodology and Data Sources

This analysis uses UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) data from ICT skills surveys across 94 countries (2011-2024). The data measures self-reported behavior among individuals aged 15-74 who connected and installed new devices (e.g., a modem, camera, printer) through wired or wireless technologies.

The 2026 estimates are indicative scenario-based projections, not official forecasts or precise predictions. They represent likely direction and relative magnitude based on qualitative, country-specific assessment. For each country, we examined historical trends (calculating average annual change rates where multiple data points exist), economic development trajectory, infrastructure quality, regional context, and data reliability. Countries with clear trends and recent data use those observed patterns as a foundation, while countries with limited or old data are assessed using regional benchmarks and comparable country analysis. All projections account for saturation effects at high adoption levels (realistic ceiling ~89-92%) and growth constraints based on economic and infrastructure capacity. Values are rounded to reflect inherent uncertainty. All values represent estimated shares for 2026, not direct survey measurements.

Rather than applying uniform formulas, each country receives individual qualitative assessment. Our process: (1) Calculate historical annual change rates from available data points (e.g., if 2019: 50% and 2023: 60%, annual rate = +2.5%/year), (2) Assess whether this rate is sustainable given economic development level and infrastructure quality, (3) Analyze technology-specific developments during the data period including device affordability trends (smartphone and computer price reductions 2014-2026), broadband and mobile network expansion, digital literacy programs and education initiatives, government technology investment and policies, and global technology adoption patterns (smartphone revolution, IoT device proliferation), (4) Compare with regional context and comparable countries to validate reasonableness, (5) Adjust for baseline value and saturation effects (higher baselines = slower growth), (6) Consider what happened in the country during any data gap—for countries with old data, we assess development trajectory rather than assuming stagnation. Countries showing methodology changes (sudden jumps >20 points) are analyzed using only post-change data. For countries with stable or declining trends, we maintain or allow modest decline when economically justified.

Specific data quality considerations: Egypt, Brunei, Malaysia show methodology improvements between 2015-2017, with projections based only on post-change data patterns. Thirty-three countries have data from 2014-2017 (Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, and 30 others). For these countries, we assessed 2014-2026 technology sector developments: smartphone revolution and device affordability improvements, broadband infrastructure expansion across Europe and globally, EU digital agenda implementation and investment, digital literacy program rollout, and IoT device proliferation. These contextual factors are used qualitatively to inform direction and magnitude, not as precise quantitative inputs. High-income countries with old data project modest growth (e.g., Austria 54.3% to 58%, Denmark 66.4% to 70%) reflecting 12 years of digital transformation. Ecuador, Kuwait, Bangladesh show declining trends that reflect survey methodology changes, affordability constraints, or substitution effects rather than loss of individual capability. Saudi Arabia, Brunei, UAE approach saturation levels (85-89%). Even in high-income contexts, full adoption is unrealistic due to age structure, disability, outsourcing of technical tasks, and user preference—realistic ceiling is 89-92%, not 100%. Ukraine's strong pre-war growth trend (2019-2021: +6%/year) is moderated to account for conflict impact, projecting +7.5 points over 5 years instead of +30 points.