In honor of World Radio Day, which is held annually on Feb. 13, WorldDAB has released new data that highlights the growth of its digital radio standard DAB+.
In its latest “infographic,” WorldDAB reports device sales are nearing 150 million, “with the fast-growing markets of France and Australia leading the way with sales of receivers now over 10 million each, alongside the well-established DAB+ auto market,” according to a company press release. Data show that sales in 11 core markets now total 145,195,000, and almost all new cars across Europe come equipped with DAB+.
The theme for World Radio Day this year is “radio and climate change,” which focuses on “empowering radio stations to enhance their journalistic coverage of one of the most critical issues of our time,” according to UNESCO, the international agency that hosts the event. WorldDAB said it published the data concurrently with World Radio Day to “reflect broadcast radio’s vital role as a relatively-free and portable public safety net during emergencies, as well as the democratic value of radio to serve as a connection within underserved groups, and the companionship it can bring as a friendly voice when needed.”
WorldDAB’s infographic, which incorporates data from 2024, also highlights an increase of choices for listeners, with more than 60 national stations now on DAB in the United Kingdom, against five on analogue; and growth also in Belgium, Czechia and Italy where listeners can access 50 DAB+ stations.
The infographic can be downloaded from the WorldDAB website here.
[Related: “How Are You Celebrating World Radio Day 2025?“]
