Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Korea
South Korea: Fixed telephone subscriptions was 41.17 per 100 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Korea, 1965–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Measured in per 100 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fixed telephone subscriptions in South Korea is 41.17 per 100 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fixed telephone subscriptions in South Korea peaked at 60.68 per 100 people in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.7561 per 100 people, in 1965.
That places South Korea 21st out of 214 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.
Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Korea, year by year
| Year | per 100 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.7561 per 100 people | — |
| 1966 | 0.7636 per 100 people | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 0.7636 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.7636 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.7636 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.48 per 100 people | +93.3% |
| 1971 | 1.49 per 100 people | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 1.49 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.49 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.49 per 100 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 2.94 per 100 people | +97.0% |
| 1976 | 3.49 per 100 people | +18.4% |
| 1977 | 4.16 per 100 people | +19.5% |
| 1978 | 5.03 per 100 people | +20.9% |
| 1979 | 6.08 per 100 people | +20.7% |
| 1980 | 7.09 per 100 people | +16.6% |
| 1981 | 8.43 per 100 people | +18.9% |
| 1982 | 10.35 per 100 people | +22.9% |
| 1983 | 12.01 per 100 people | +16.0% |
| 1984 | 13.76 per 100 people | +14.6% |
| 1985 | 15.81 per 100 people | +14.9% |
| 1986 | 17.99 per 100 people | +13.8% |
| 1987 | 20.34 per 100 people | +13.1% |
| 1988 | 23.97 per 100 people | +17.9% |
| 1989 | 27.07 per 100 people | +12.9% |
| 1990 | 30.1 per 100 people | +11.2% |
| 1991 | 32.8 per 100 people | +9.0% |
| 1992 | 34.9 per 100 people | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 37.2 per 100 people | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 39.1 per 100 people | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 41 per 100 people | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 42.9 per 100 people | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 44.5 per 100 people | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 43.5 per 100 people | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 55.1 per 100 people | +26.7% |
| 2000 | 55.3 per 100 people | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 54.79 per 100 people | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 54.41 per 100 people | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 52.88 per 100 people | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 49.41 per 100 people | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 49.96 per 100 people | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 46.73 per 100 people | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 47.75 per 100 people | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 50.37 per 100 people | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 55.4 per 100 people | +10.0% |
| 2010 | 58.53 per 100 people | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 59.98 per 100 people | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 60.68 per 100 people | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 60.58 per 100 people | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 58.33 per 100 people | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 56.65 per 100 people | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 54.65 per 100 people | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 52.14 per 100 people | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 50.17 per 100 people | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 47.77 per 100 people | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 46.01 per 100 people | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 44.77 per 100 people | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 44.05 per 100 people | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 42.81 per 100 people | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 41.17 per 100 people | -3.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 41.17 per 100 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 24.32 per 100 people, 1.7× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 41.17 per 100 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10.82 per 100 people, 3.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fixed telephone subscriptions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +97.0% | 1.49 per 100 people | 2.94 per 100 people |
| 1970 | +93.3% | 0.7636 per 100 people | 1.48 per 100 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7621 per 100 people | 0.7561 per 100 people | 0.7636 per 100 people | 5 |
| 1970s | 2.92 per 100 people | 1.48 per 100 people | 6.08 per 100 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.68 per 100 people | 7.09 per 100 people | 27.07 per 100 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.11 per 100 people | 30.1 per 100 people | 55.1 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.7 per 100 people | 46.73 per 100 people | 55.4 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.95 per 100 people | 47.77 per 100 people | 60.68 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.76 per 100 people | 41.17 per 100 people | 46.01 per 100 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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, 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)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 89.22 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fixed telephone subscriptions in South Korea?
- Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Korea was 41.17 per 100 people in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 60.68 per 100 people in 2012.
- What is the lowest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7561 per 100 people in 1965.
- How does South Korea rank for fixed telephone subscriptions?
- South Korea ranks 21st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fixed telephone subscriptions rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.4%. 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 Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Fixed telephone subscriptions refers to the sum of active number of analogue fixed telephone lines, voice-over-IP (VoIP) subscriptions, fixed wireless local loop (WLL) subscriptions, ISDN voice-channel equivalents and fixed public payphones.