Fixed telephone subscriptions in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Fixed telephone subscriptions was 1.58 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fixed telephone subscriptions in Sri Lanka, 1960–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
In 2024, fixed telephone subscriptions in Sri Lanka stood at 1.58 million.
The figure is down 7.3% on the previous year and down 41.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fixed telephone subscriptions in Sri Lanka peaked at 3.61 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 22,772, in 1960.
That places Sri Lanka 54th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fixed telephone subscriptions in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 22,772 | — |
| 1961 | 22,772 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 22,772 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 22,772 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 22,772 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 27,700 | +21.6% |
| 1966 | 27,700 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 27,700 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 27,700 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 27,700 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 37,100 | +33.9% |
| 1971 | 37,100 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 37,100 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 37,100 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 37,100 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 42,500 | +14.6% |
| 1976 | 43,550 | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 44,625 | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 45,700 | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 47,400 | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 54,200 | +14.3% |
| 1981 | 66,013 | +21.8% |
| 1982 | 70,381 | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 73,500 | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 80,770 | +9.9% |
| 1985 | 87,686 | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 92,065 | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 97,333 | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 103,521 | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 105,483 | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 121,388 | +15.1% |
| 1991 | 125,834 | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 135,504 | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 157,774 | +16.4% |
| 1994 | 180,724 | +14.5% |
| 1995 | 204,350 | +13.1% |
| 1996 | 255,049 | +24.8% |
| 1997 | 341,622 | +33.9% |
| 1998 | 523,529 | +53.2% |
| 1999 | 669,113 | +27.8% |
| 2000 | 767,411 | +14.7% |
| 2001 | 827,195 | +7.8% |
| 2002 | 883,108 | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 939,013 | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 991,239 | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 1.24 million | +25.5% |
| 2006 | 1.88 million | +51.5% |
| 2007 | 2.74 million | +45.5% |
| 2008 | 3.45 million | +25.7% |
| 2009 | 3.44 million | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 3.58 million | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 3.61 million | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 3.45 million | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 2.71 million | -21.5% |
| 2014 | 2.71 million | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 3.29 million | +21.3% |
| 2016 | 2.48 million | -24.6% |
| 2017 | 2.60 million | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 2.47 million | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 2.29 million | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 2.61 million | +13.8% |
| 2021 | 2.87 million | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 2.58 million | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 1.71 million | -33.9% |
| 2024 | 1.58 million | -7.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.58 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 734,202, 2.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1.58 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 346,336, 4.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fixed telephone subscriptions in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +53.2% | 341,622 | 523,529 |
| 2006 | +51.5% | 1.24 million | 1.88 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25,236 | 22,772 | 27,700 | 10 |
| 1970s | 40,928 | 37,100 | 47,400 | 10 |
| 1980s | 83,095 | 54,200 | 105,483 | 10 |
| 1990s | 271,489 | 121,388 | 669,113 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.72 million | 767,411 | 3.45 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.92 million | 2.29 million | 3.61 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.27 million | 1.58 million | 2.87 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More infrastructure data for Sri Lanka
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 30.62 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 132.55 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 6.85 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0722 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -7.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 1.58 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.4 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 30.62 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fixed telephone subscriptions in Sri Lanka?
- Fixed telephone subscriptions in Sri Lanka was 1.58 million in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 3.61 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 22,772 in 1960.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for fixed telephone subscriptions?
- Sri Lanka ranks 54th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fixed telephone subscriptions rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.