Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Malawi

Malawi: Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers was 4.13 million in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
4.13 million
Change on year
up 26.2%
World rank
29th
of 53 countries
All-time high
4.13 million
in 2011
All-time low
3,500
in 1960
Years of data
40
1960–2011

Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Malawi, 1960–2011

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M1960198520111960: 3.5k1965: 3.9k1970: 6.0k1975: 8.7k1976: 9.5k1977: 10.7k1978: 11.8k1979: 13.2k1980: 14.6k1981: 15.4k1982: 16.4k1983: 17.1k1984: 18.2k1985: 19.9k1986: 21.2k1987: 22.5k1988: 23.6k1989: 26.0k1990: 26.6k1991: 28.6k1992: 30.8k1993: 32.8k1994: 33.1k1995: 34.7k1996: 39.2k1997: 43.8k1998: 47.9k1999: 64.1k2000: 95.4k2001: 110.3k2002: 159.1k2003: 220.1k2004: 315.1k2005: 523.9k2006: 750.2k2007: 1.2M2008: 1.6M2009: 2.6M2010: 3.3M2011: 4.1M

Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Malawi is 4.13 million, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 26.2% on the previous year and up 3,638.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Malawi peaked at 4.13 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3,500, in 1960.

Malawi ranks 29th of 53 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Malawi, 1960 to 2011.
Year Value Change
1960 3,500
1965 3,900 +11.4%
1970 6,000 +53.8%
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 34,720 +5.0%
1996 39,171 +12.8%
1997 43,754 +11.7%
1998 47,871 +9.4%
1999 64,062 +33.8%
2000 95,444 +49.0%
2001 110,337 +15.6%
2002 159,147 +44.2%
2003 220,114 +38.3%
2004 315,135 +43.2%
2005 523,887 +66.2%
2006 750,163 +43.2%
2007 1.23 million +63.4%
2008 1.62 million +32.1%
2009 2.60 million +60.4%
2010 3.27 million +25.9%
2011 4.13 million +26.2%

Malawi compared with similar countries

  • Malawi's 4.13 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.31 million, 96% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
  • Malawi's 4.13 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.13 million, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers 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
2005 +66.2% 315,135 523,887
2007 +63.4% 750,163 1.23 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 3,700 3,500 3,900 2
1970s 9,987 6,000 13,164 6
1980s 19,488 14,555 25,960 10
1990s 38,143 26,640 64,062 10
2000s 761,629 95,444 2.60 million 10
2010s 3.70 million 3.27 million 4.13 million 2

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 26 Niger 4.83 million compare
  2. 27 Guinea 4.52 million compare
  3. 28 Rwanda 4.49 million compare
  4. 30 Congo 3.90 million compare
  5. 31 Chad 3.70 million compare
  6. 32 Mauritania 3.39 million compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More infrastructure data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Malawi?
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Malawi was 4.13 million in 2011, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database.
What is the highest mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 4.13 million in 2011.
What is the lowest mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 3,500 in 1960.
How does Malawi rank for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers?
Malawi ranks 29th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
Is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 3,638.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database, published as part of Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/mobile-and-fixed-line-telephone-subscribers/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers
Source
International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
59 places, 2,189 data points, 1960–2011
Last refreshed

International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database.