Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Asia
South Asia: Fixed telephone subscriptions was 52.00 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Asia, 1960–2025
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
The most recent figure for fixed telephone subscriptions in South Asia is 52.00 million, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 23.8% on the previous year and up 52.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fixed telephone subscriptions in South Asia peaked at 58.27 million in 2005 and was at its lowest, 429,647, in 1960.
That places South Asia 27th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 429,647 | — |
| 1961 | 429,647 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 429,647 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 429,647 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 429,647 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 756,644 | +76.1% |
| 1966 | 756,644 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 756,644 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 756,644 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 756,644 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.22 million | +61.3% |
| 1971 | 1.22 million | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1.22 million | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.22 million | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.22 million | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.81 million | +47.9% |
| 1976 | 1.98 million | +9.9% |
| 1977 | 2.12 million | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 2.30 million | +8.2% |
| 1979 | 2.48 million | +7.9% |
| 1980 | 2.64 million | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 2.84 million | +7.4% |
| 1982 | 3.03 million | +6.7% |
| 1983 | 3.29 million | +8.6% |
| 1984 | 3.59 million | +9.2% |
| 1985 | 3.92 million | +9.0% |
| 1986 | 4.33 million | +10.5% |
| 1987 | 4.73 million | +9.2% |
| 1988 | 5.18 million | +9.6% |
| 1989 | 5.77 million | +11.3% |
| 1990 | 6.36 million | +10.3% |
| 1991 | 7.39 million | +16.1% |
| 1992 | 8.52 million | +15.3% |
| 1993 | 10.07 million | +18.3% |
| 1994 | 12.19 million | +21.0% |
| 1995 | 14.73 million | +20.8% |
| 1996 | 17.65 million | +19.9% |
| 1997 | 21.26 million | +20.4% |
| 1998 | 25.46 million | +19.7% |
| 1999 | 30.80 million | +21.0% |
| 2000 | 37.08 million | +20.4% |
| 2001 | 43.55 million | +17.4% |
| 2002 | 46.97 million | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 48.19 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 53.00 million | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 58.27 million | +9.9% |
| 2006 | 49.70 million | -14.7% |
| 2007 | 48.75 million | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 47.99 million | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 48.75 million | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 46.94 million | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 44.05 million | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 42.19 million | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 40.17 million | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 36.57 million | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 34.20 million | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 31.80 million | -7.0% |
| 2017 | 30.50 million | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 29.70 million | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 28.50 million | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 25.00 million | -12.3% |
| 2021 | 28.00 million | +12.0% |
| 2022 | 31.00 million | +10.7% |
| 2023 | 34.00 million | +9.7% |
| 2024 | 42.00 million | +23.5% |
| 2025 | 52.00 million | +23.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 593,146 | 429,647 | 756,644 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.68 million | 1.22 million | 2.48 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.93 million | 2.64 million | 5.77 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.44 million | 6.36 million | 30.80 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.23 million | 37.08 million | 58.27 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.46 million | 28.50 million | 46.94 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.33 million | 25.00 million | 52.00 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More infrastructure data for South Asia
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 1.38 billion (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 81.7 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 3.1 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0307 units per person (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate 23.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 52.00 million (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 0.8178 units per person (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 1.38 billion (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fixed telephone subscriptions in South Asia?
- Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Asia was 52.00 million in 2025, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 58.27 million in 2005.
- What is the lowest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 429,647 in 1960.
- How does South Asia rank for fixed telephone subscriptions?
- South Asia ranks 27th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is fixed telephone subscriptions rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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.