Fixed telephone subscriptions in China
China: Fixed telephone subscriptions was 166.51 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fixed telephone subscriptions in China, 1975–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
In 2024, fixed telephone subscriptions in China stood at 166.51 million.
That represents a change of down 7.2% on the previous year and down 33.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fixed telephone subscriptions in China peaked at 367.79 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 1.69 million, in 1975.
That places China 1st 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 China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 1.69 million | — |
| 1976 | 1.76 million | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 1.83 million | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 1.93 million | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 2.03 million | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 2.14 million | +5.3% |
| 1981 | 2.22 million | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 2.34 million | +5.5% |
| 1983 | 2.51 million | +7.1% |
| 1984 | 2.77 million | +10.6% |
| 1985 | 3.12 million | +12.5% |
| 1986 | 3.50 million | +12.3% |
| 1987 | 3.91 million | +11.5% |
| 1988 | 4.73 million | +21.0% |
| 1989 | 5.68 million | +20.2% |
| 1990 | 6.85 million | +20.6% |
| 1991 | 8.45 million | +23.4% |
| 1992 | 11.47 million | +35.7% |
| 1993 | 17.33 million | +51.1% |
| 1994 | 27.30 million | +57.5% |
| 1995 | 40.71 million | +49.1% |
| 1996 | 54.95 million | +35.0% |
| 1997 | 70.31 million | +28.0% |
| 1998 | 87.42 million | +24.3% |
| 1999 | 108.72 million | +24.4% |
| 2000 | 144.83 million | +33.2% |
| 2001 | 180.37 million | +24.5% |
| 2002 | 214.22 million | +18.8% |
| 2003 | 262.75 million | +22.7% |
| 2004 | 311.76 million | +18.7% |
| 2005 | 350.44 million | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 367.79 million | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 365.64 million | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 340.36 million | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 313.73 million | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 294.38 million | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 285.12 million | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 278.15 million | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 266.99 million | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 249.43 million | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 231.00 million | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 206.62 million | -10.6% |
| 2017 | 193.76 million | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 192.09 million | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 191.03 million | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 181.91 million | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 180.70 million | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 179.41 million | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 179.41 million | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 166.51 million | -7.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 166.51 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 734,202, 226.8× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- China's 166.51 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81,260, 2049.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.85 million | 1.69 million | 2.03 million | 5 |
| 1980s | 3.29 million | 2.14 million | 5.68 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 43.35 million | 6.85 million | 108.72 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 285.19 million | 144.83 million | 367.79 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 238.86 million | 191.03 million | 294.38 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 177.59 million | 166.51 million | 181.91 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More infrastructure data for China
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 1.87 billion (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 131.75 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 11.73 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.1182 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -7.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 166.51 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.33 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 1.87 billion (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fixed telephone subscriptions in China?
- Fixed telephone subscriptions in China was 166.51 million in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 367.79 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.69 million in 1975.
- How does China rank for fixed telephone subscriptions?
- China ranks 1st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fixed telephone subscriptions rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Fixed telephone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.