Fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi

Malawi: Fixed telephone subscriptions was 4,869 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
4,869
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
193rd
of 214 countries
All-time high
227,295
in 2012
All-time low
3,500
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024

Fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi, 1960–2024

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k196019922024

Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Analysis

The most recent figure for fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi is 4,869, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 74.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi peaked at 227,295 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 3,500, in 1960.

Malawi ranks 193rd of 214 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi, 1960 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1960 3,500
1961 3,500 +0.0%
1962 3,500 +0.0%
1963 3,500 +0.0%
1964 3,500 +0.0%
1965 3,900 +11.4%
1966 3,900 +0.0%
1967 3,900 +0.0%
1968 3,900 +0.0%
1969 3,900 +0.0%
1970 6,000 +53.8%
1971 6,000 +0.0%
1972 6,000 +0.0%
1973 6,000 +0.0%
1974 6,000 +0.0%
1975 8,700 +45.0%
1976 9,540 +9.7%
1977 10,727 +12.4%
1978 11,792 +9.9%
1979 13,164 +11.6%
1980 14,555 +10.6%
1981 15,438 +6.1%
1982 16,445 +6.5%
1983 17,100 +4.0%
1984 18,233 +6.6%
1985 19,856 +8.9%
1986 21,228 +6.9%
1987 22,466 +5.8%
1988 23,600 +5.0%
1989 25,960 +10.0%
1990 26,640 +2.6%
1991 28,564 +7.2%
1992 30,804 +7.8%
1993 32,767 +6.4%
1994 33,081 +1.0%
1995 34,338 +3.8%
1996 35,471 +3.3%
1997 36,754 +3.6%
1998 37,371 +1.7%
1999 41,562 +11.2%
2000 46,444 +11.7%
2001 54,607 +17.6%
2002 73,100 +33.9%
2003 85,000 +16.3%
2004 93,000 +9.4%
2005 102,724 +10.5%
2006 130,000 +26.6%
2007 175,209 +34.8%
2008 111,333 -36.5%
2009 111,333 +0.0%
2010 152,108 +36.6%
2011 173,481 +14.1%
2012 227,295 +31.0%
2013 33,569 -85.2%
2014 18,963 -43.5%
2015 14,462 -23.7%
2016 11,234 -22.3%
2017 17,337 +54.3%
2018 14,992 -13.5%
2019 13,101 -12.6%
2020 12,465 -4.9%
2021 12,410 -0.4%
2022 9,456 -23.8%
2023 4,808 -49.2%
2024 4,869 +1.3%

Malawi compared with similar countries

  • Malawi's 4,869 is below the median for low income countries, which is 44,127, 11% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Malawi's 4,869 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 56,011, 9% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi 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.

YearChange FromTo
2013 -85.2% 227,295 33,569
2023 -49.2% 9,456 4,808
1970 +53.8% 3,900 6,000
2017 +54.3% 11,234 17,337
2014 -43.5% 33,569 18,963

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 3,700 3,500 3,900 10
1970s 8,392 6,000 13,164 10
1980s 19,488 14,555 25,960 10
1990s 33,735 26,640 41,562 10
2000s 98,275 46,444 175,209 10
2010s 67,654 11,234 227,295 10
2020s 8,802 4,808 12,465 5

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 190 Liberia 6,254 compare
  2. 191 Palau 6,154 compare
  3. 192 Greenland 4,996 compare
  4. 194 Samoa 4,567 compare
  5. 195 Turks and Caicos Islands 4,052 compare
  6. 196 Madagascar 3,413 compare

See the full ranking of 261 places →

More infrastructure data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi?
Fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi was 4,869 in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
What is the highest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 227,295 in 2012.
What is the lowest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 3,500 in 1960.
How does Malawi rank for fixed telephone subscriptions?
Malawi ranks 193rd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
Is fixed telephone subscriptions rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is down 74.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi 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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Fixed telephone subscriptions in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/fixed-telephone-subscriptions/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Fixed telephone subscriptions
Source
World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
261 places, 14,489 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.