Share of People Who Can Install Software and Apps by Country (2026)

What percentage of people in your country can find, download, install, and configure software and apps? This indicator measures the share of adults who possess these essential digital skills. This indicator is part of a broader set of digital skills metrics, including file management, online communication, and problem-solving with software. This analysis examines software installation ability across 99 countries, revealing significant disparities in how populations have adopted these digital competencies. Understanding who can install software provides insight into digital inequality and technology adoption patterns globally.

Understanding Software and App Installation Skills

Software and app installation skills measure the percentage of people who found, downloaded, installed, and configured software and apps on devices. This includes locating software sources, downloading applications, completing installation processes, and configuring settings. A proficiency rate of 70% means 70 out of 100 people can install and configure software, while 30 cannot or do not perform these tasks. This metric captures adoption of software management skills and represents a key indicator of device customization and digital competency across populations.

Software and app installation skills enable people to expand device functionality and customize digital environments. Users who can install software can add productivity tools, entertainment applications, and specialized software for work or education. These digital skills are foundational for device management, enabling people to adapt devices to personal needs and preferences. Inability to install software limits device functionality and restricts access to specialized applications needed for work or education.

Share of People Who Can Install Software and Apps by Country (2026)

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#	Country	2026 Estimate (%)
1	Brunei BN	96.7%
2	Saudi Arabia SA	95%
3	United Arab Emirates AE	83.7%
4	Bahrain BH	83.6%
5	Iceland IS	75.1%
6	Oman OM	74.4%
7	South Korea KR	73.5%
8	Norway NO	73.2%
9	Egypt EG	72%
10	Netherlands NL	72%
11	Spain ES	70.9%
12	United Kingdom GB	69.1%
13	Finland FI	68.9%
14	Malta MT	67.6%
15	Malaysia MY	66%
16	Singapore SG	65.7%
17	Ireland IE	65.6%
18	Switzerland CH	63.3%
19	China CN	62%
20	Austria AT	61%
21	Denmark DK	61%
22	Kuwait KW	60.4%
23	Czech Republic CZ	60.3%
24	Andorra AD	60%
25	Montenegro ME	60%
26	Estonia EE	59.3%
27	Japan JP	59.1%
28	Serbia RS	58%
29	Poland PL	56.7%
30	Hong Kong HK	56%
31	Sweden SE	54.7%
32	Italy IT	53.8%
33	Chile CL	53%
34	Luxembourg LU	52.7%
35	Lithuania LT	52.3%
36	Latvia LV	52.1%
37	Belgium BE	50.6%
38	Cyprus CY	50.5%
39	Morocco MA	50.3%
40	Greece GR	50%
41	France FR	49.2%
42	Germany DE	49.2%
43	Croatia HR	46%
44	Uruguay UY	46%
45	Bosnia and Herzegovina BA	45.1%
46	Indonesia ID	45%
47	Mongolia MN	45%
48	Slovenia SI	43.4%
49	Albania AL	42.9%
50	Slovakia SK	42.6%
51	Hungary HU	41.1%
52	Macau MO	39.2%
53	Portugal PT	39.2%
54	Qatar QA	37%
55	Romania RO	30%
56	Bulgaria BG	29.4%
57	Belarus BY	29.3%
58	Brazil BR	28.2%
59	Costa Rica CR	26%
60	Kazakhstan KZ	24%
61	Türkiye TR	22%
62	Bangladesh BD	21%
63	Mauritius MU	21%
64	Cuba CU	20.7%
65	Jordan JO	20%
66	Ukraine UA	19.6%
67	Curaçao CW	19%
68	Tunisia TN	18.9%
69	Mexico MX	18.3%
70	North Macedonia MK	18%
71	Colombia CO	17.4%
72	Algeria DZ	16%
73	Djibouti DJ	14%
74	Georgia GE	12.5%
75	Russia RU	12.1%
76	South Africa ZA	12%
77	Ivory Coast CI	11.9%
78	Azerbaijan AZ	11.4%
79	Peru PE	11.4%
80	Palestine PS	10.2%
81	Dominican Republic DO	10%
82	Zimbabwe ZW	10%
83	Vietnam VN	9.9%
84	Bhutan BT	9%
85	Jamaica JM	8.4%
86	Uzbekistan UZ	8.4%
87	Lesotho LS	7%
88	Niger NE	7%
89	Iran IR	6.1%
90	Cape Verde CV	5%
91	Ecuador EC	5%
92	Thailand TH	4.7%
93	Malawi MW	4%
94	Philippines PH	3%
95	Sudan SD	3%
96	Togo TG	3%
97	Pakistan PK	1.8%
98	Cambodia KH	1%
99	Iraq IQ	1%

Global Leaders in Software Installation Skills

Several countries show exceptionally high software installation proficiency rates, indicating populations with strong device management capabilities and digital competency. Brunei leads with 92.5%, followed by Saudi Arabia (90.5%), Bahrain (80.8%), and United Arab Emirates (76.7%). These nations combine excellent digital infrastructure, strong digital literacy programs, and populations comfortable with software management. The high software installation proficiency in these countries reflects broader digital skill adoption and significant investment in digital literacy education and device customization capabilities.

Developed nations in Northern Europe and the Middle East show particularly strong adoption rates of software installation skills. Iceland (73.6%), Oman (73.2%), Norway (72.0%), and Netherlands (70.5%) demonstrate strong software management capabilities. These countries have invested in digital literacy programs that ensure populations can find, download, and install software effectively. The global digital skills gap is evident when comparing these high-performing nations with countries where software installation skills remain limited.

Emerging Software Management Adoption

Many countries show growing software installation proficiency, driven by increasing device access and digital literacy initiatives. Countries in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe demonstrate strong growth trajectories in software management adoption as digital infrastructure expands and younger populations with native software skills become larger shares of the population. Finland (67.1%), Spain (66.2%), and Germany (52.6%) show strong software installation capabilities. These emerging markets represent the global digital skill adoption trend toward more universal software management skills.

Developing nations increasingly recognize software installation skills as essential for device customization and digital participation. As device access expands and digital literacy programs emphasize software management, populations may see gradual improvement in software installation capabilities. However, significant gaps persist between countries with mature digital literacy infrastructure and those with limited digital education. Growth potential exists, but outcomes vary widely depending on infrastructure investment and policy priorities. The digital inequality between countries remains a critical challenge for global software management adoption.

Barriers to Software Installation Skills

Many countries show low software installation proficiency rates, reflecting multiple barriers to software management adoption and digital competency. Limited device access prevents populations from practicing software installation skills. Complex installation processes create barriers even when devices are available. Lack of digital literacy training means populations never learn software installation procedures. Language barriers limit access to software interfaces and installation instructions. Older populations show lower proficiency than younger demographics, reflecting generational differences in software exposure and digital skill adoption.

Economic and technical factors significantly influence software installation proficiency and broader digital competency. Populations in low-income countries often lack access to devices and internet connectivity needed to download and install software. Educational systems in developing nations may not prioritize software management training. Limited availability of software in local languages restricts learning opportunities for non-English speakers. Security concerns about malware and unauthorized software limit installation practices in some contexts. These factors contribute to the global digital skill gaps observed across countries.

Software Installation Skills and Device Customization

High software installation proficiency enables effective device customization and expanded functionality. People who can install software can add productivity tools, entertainment applications, and specialized software for work or education. Organizations benefit from users with strong software management skills that enable them to adopt specialized applications and expand device capabilities. Software installation proficiency represents a critical foundation for device customization and digital participation.

Low software installation proficiency creates barriers to device customization and limits access to specialized applications. People without software installation skills cannot expand device functionality and become increasingly dependent on pre-installed applications. Organizations in countries with low software proficiency face challenges adopting specialized software and expanding digital capabilities. The global digital skill gaps directly impact device customization and digital opportunity across nations.

2026 Projections and Methodology

The 2026 projections show continued growth in software installation skills across most countries, though growth rates vary significantly by region and development level. High-performing nations like Brunei, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain are projected to maintain strong proficiency rates, representing populations where software management is nearly universal. Mid-tier countries show growth potential as digital literacy programs expand and device access increases. Low-proficiency countries may see gradual improvement in software installation skills as device access expands and younger generations with native software skills become larger population shares. However, projections reflect current trends and may not hold if significant policy changes or infrastructure investments occur.

Share of People Who Can Install Software and Apps by Country (2026)

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#	Country	Latest Available Data (%)	2026 Estimate (%)
1	Brunei	92.5 (2022)	96.7%
2	Saudi Arabia	90.5 (2023)	95%
3	United Arab Emirates	76.7 (2023)	83.7%
4	Bahrain	80.8 (2023)	83.6%
5	Iceland	73.6 (2021)	75.1%
6	Oman	73.2 (2023)	74.4%
7	South Korea	65.8 (2023)	73.5%
8	Norway	72.0 (2023)	73.2%
9	Egypt	63.1 (2020)	72%
10	Netherlands	70.5 (2019)	72%
11	Spain	66.2 (2023)	70.9%
12	United Kingdom	65.7 (2019)	69.1%
13	Finland	67.1 (2023)	68.9%
14	Malta	63.4 (2023)	67.6%
15	Malaysia	58.7 (2023)	66%
16	Singapore	57.9 (2023)	65.7%
17	Ireland	57.0 (2020)	65.6%
18	Switzerland	60.2 (2023)	63.3%
19	China	56.2 (2022)	62%
20	Austria	57.1 (2023)	61%
21	Denmark	65.0 (2021)	61%
22	Kuwait	61.4 (2023)	60.4%
23	Czech Republic	55.4 (2023)	60.3%
24	Andorra	52.8 (2017)	60%
25	Montenegro	50.2 (2022)	60%
26	Estonia	50.1 (2021)	59.3%
27	Japan	56.0 (2022)	59.1%
28	Serbia	52.0 (2023)	58%
29	Poland	51.3 (2023)	56.7%
30	Hong Kong	51.6 (2023)	56%
31	Sweden	61.3 (2023)	54.7%
32	Italy	50.5 (2023)	53.8%
33	Chile	49.7 (2023)	53%
34	Luxembourg	56.7 (2023)	52.7%
35	Lithuania	45.9 (2023)	52.3%
36	Latvia	44.0 (2023)	52.1%
37	Belgium	47.9 (2023)	50.6%
38	Cyprus	43.9 (2019)	50.5%
39	Morocco	40.3 (2021)	50.3%
40	Greece	43.6 (2023)	50%
41	France	48.5 (2023)	49.2%
42	Germany	52.6 (2023)	49.2%
43	Croatia	47.5 (2023)	46%
44	Uruguay	42.3 (2022)	46%
45	Bosnia and Herzegovina	40.0 (2023)	45.1%
46	Indonesia	25.5 (2017)	45%
47	Mongolia	32.7 (2021)	45%
48	Slovenia	40.4 (2023)	43.4%
49	Albania	31.7 (2023)	42.9%
50	Slovakia	37.0 (2023)	42.6%
51	Hungary	41.1 (2024)	41.1%
52	Macau	40.9 (2021)	39.2%
53	Portugal	36.8 (2023)	39.2%
54	Qatar	37.1 (2020)	37%
55	Romania	25.3 (2023)	30%
56	Bulgaria	26.5 (2023)	29.4%
57	Belarus	29.5 (2023)	29.3%
58	Brazil	31.4 (2023)	28.2%
59	Costa Rica	24.6 (2023)	26%
60	Kazakhstan	21.8 (2023)	24%
61	Türkiye	22.0 (2023)	22%
62	Bangladesh	20.2 (2023)	21%
63	Mauritius	19.2 (2020)	21%
64	Cuba	11.3 (2020)	20.7%
65	Jordan	18.5 (2023)	20%
66	Ukraine	9.6 (2021)	19.6%
67	Curaçao	18.1 (2017)	19%
68	Tunisia	16.6 (2019)	18.9%
69	Mexico	19.0 (2023)	18.3%
70	North Macedonia	17.6 (2016)	18%
71	Colombia	19.6 (2023)	17.4%
72	Algeria	15.5 (2018)	16%
73	Djibouti	13.0 (2017)	14%
74	Georgia	12.7 (2023)	12.5%
75	Russia	13.3 (2023)	12.1%
76	South Africa	11.1 (2019)	12%
77	Ivory Coast	10.5 (2023)	11.9%
78	Azerbaijan	10.4 (2023)	11.4%
79	Peru	12.0 (2023)	11.4%
80	Palestine	9.2 (2023)	10.2%
81	Dominican Republic	9.0 (2022)	10%
82	Zimbabwe	9.1 (2020)	10%
83	Vietnam	9.5 (2023)	9.9%
84	Bhutan	8.6 (2021)	9%
85	Jamaica	8.7 (2021)	8.4%
86	Uzbekistan	7.5 (2023)	8.4%
87	Lesotho	6.0 (2019)	7%
88	Niger	6.4 (2022)	7%
89	Iran	7.7 (2021)	6.1%
90	Cape Verde	4.6 (2019)	5%
91	Ecuador	5.6 (2024)	5%
92	Thailand	5.1 (2020)	4.7%
93	Malawi	3.6 (2023)	4%
94	Philippines	3.0 (2019)	3%
95	Sudan	2.4 (2016)	3%
96	Togo	2.4 (2017)	3%
97	Pakistan	2.4 (2020)	1.8%
98	Cambodia	0.6 (2017)	1%
99	Iraq	3.2 (2022)	1%

About the Data Data years vary by country (2013–2024). Where recent data is unavailable, projections are applied using historical trends and contextual assessment. Year labels in the data table reflect projection targets, not survey years. This approach ensures comprehensive coverage while maintaining methodological transparency.

Methodology and Data Sources

This analysis uses UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) data from ICT skills surveys across 99 countries (2013-2024). The data measures the percentage of individuals aged 15-74 who found, downloaded, installed, and configured software and apps on devices.

The 2026 estimates are trend-based projections, not forecasts. For countries with multiple years of data, we identify the historical trend direction and extend it forward to 2026, accounting for the likelihood that adoption rates slow as they approach higher levels. For countries with limited data, we assess growth potential based on economic development and digital infrastructure context. All projections account for the time since the latest measurement—countries with recent data show modest changes, while countries with older data reflect longer-term adoption patterns.

Estimation approach: For countries with 3+ data points, we derive the historical trend and project it forward, then apply conservative adjustments to reflect realistic adoption patterns. Higher adoption rates (above 70%) are assumed to grow more slowly due to saturation effects. Older data (more than 3 years) receives additional caution in projections to account for measurement uncertainty. For countries with 1-2 data points, we estimate growth based on comparable countries at similar development levels and data recency. All estimates are bounded between 0-100%.

Data quality notes: Some countries show recent declines (Germany, Sweden) that likely reflect survey methodology changes rather than actual skill loss. Countries with data older than 7 years (Indonesia, Cambodia, Sudan) use conservative estimates. Extreme values are capped to avoid implausible projections. Brunei's large jump (42.6% to 92.5%) suggests a survey methodology improvement. Bangladesh's slight decline is treated as temporary. Türkiye's declining trend reflects measurement changes. Egypt's rapid growth suggests survey improvements. Ecuador's decline reflects measurement changes.

How we estimated 2026 values: For countries with multiple years of data, we examine the direction and pace of change over time, then apply that pattern forward to 2026 while accounting for realistic constraints. For example, if a country showed 2% annual growth over recent years, we might project similar growth forward, but reduce it if the country is already at high adoption levels (where growth naturally slows). For countries with only one or two data points, we compare them to similar countries at comparable development stages to estimate reasonable growth. In all cases, we avoid projecting values beyond 100% or below 0%, and we flag countries where data quality concerns (sudden jumps, inconsistent trends) suggest caution in interpretation.