Mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia
Malaysia: Mobile cellular subscriptions was 139.66 per 100 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia, 1960–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Measured in per 100 people.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia stood at 139.66 per 100 people.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia peaked at 146.37 per 100 people in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 per 100 people, in 1960.
That places Malaysia 42nd 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.
Mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | per 100 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1965 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1970 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1975 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1976 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1977 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1978 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1979 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1980 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1981 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1982 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1983 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1984 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1986 | 0.0695 per 100 people | — |
| 1987 | 0.1086 per 100 people | +56.2% |
| 1988 | 0.1652 per 100 people | +52.1% |
| 1989 | 0.2316 per 100 people | +40.2% |
| 1990 | 0.4945 per 100 people | +113.5% |
| 1991 | 0.7215 per 100 people | +45.9% |
| 1992 | 1.08 per 100 people | +50.0% |
| 1993 | 1.78 per 100 people | +64.9% |
| 1994 | 2.92 per 100 people | +63.5% |
| 1995 | 4.99 per 100 people | +71.0% |
| 1996 | 7.35 per 100 people | +47.2% |
| 1997 | 9.41 per 100 people | +28.1% |
| 1998 | 10.09 per 100 people | +7.2% |
| 1999 | 13.37 per 100 people | +32.5% |
| 2000 | 22.3 per 100 people | +66.8% |
| 2001 | 31.39 per 100 people | +40.8% |
| 2002 | 37.56 per 100 people | +19.7% |
| 2003 | 45.07 per 100 people | +20.0% |
| 2004 | 57.85 per 100 people | +28.3% |
| 2005 | 75.65 per 100 people | +30.8% |
| 2006 | 73.68 per 100 people | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 86.48 per 100 people | +17.4% |
| 2008 | 100.52 per 100 people | +16.2% |
| 2009 | 107.18 per 100 people | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 118.16 per 100 people | +10.2% |
| 2011 | 125.72 per 100 people | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 139.31 per 100 people | +10.8% |
| 2013 | 142.52 per 100 people | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 146.37 per 100 people | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 141.21 per 100 people | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 136.72 per 100 people | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 130.85 per 100 people | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 128.87 per 100 people | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 133.37 per 100 people | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 129.02 per 100 people | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 137.69 per 100 people | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 138.21 per 100 people | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 142.73 per 100 people | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 139.66 per 100 people | -2.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 139.66 per 100 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 120.08 per 100 people, 1.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 139.66 per 100 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 115.3 per 100 people, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 6 |
| 1980s | 0.0639 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0.2316 per 100 people | 9 |
| 1990s | 5.22 per 100 people | 0.4945 per 100 people | 13.37 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.77 per 100 people | 22.3 per 100 people | 107.18 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 134.31 per 100 people | 118.16 per 100 people | 146.37 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 137.46 per 100 people | 129.02 per 100 people | 142.73 per 100 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More infrastructure data for Malaysia
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 49.66 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 8.22 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 23.11 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.2311 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -2.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 8.22 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.4 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 49.66 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia was 139.66 per 100 people in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 146.37 per 100 people in 2014.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 per 100 people in 1960.
- How does Malaysia rank for mobile cellular subscriptions?
- Malaysia ranks 42nd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Mobile cellular telephone subscriptions are subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the PSTN using cellular technology. The indicator includes (and is split into) the number of postpaid subscriptions, and the number of active prepaid accounts (i.e. that have been used during the last three months). The indicator applies to all mobile cellular subscriptions that offer voice communications. It excludes subscriptions via data cards or USB modems, subscriptions to public mobile data services, private trunked mobile radio, telepoint, radio paging and telemetry services.