Mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia
Malaysia: Mobile cellular subscriptions was 49.66 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia, 1960–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
In 2024, mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia stood at 49.66 million.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions in Malaysia peaked at 50.14 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1960.
That places Malaysia 38th 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 10,817 | — |
| 1987 | 17,411 | +61.0% |
| 1988 | 27,302 | +56.8% |
| 1989 | 39,419 | +44.4% |
| 1990 | 86,620 | +119.7% |
| 1991 | 130,000 | +50.1% |
| 1992 | 200,573 | +54.3% |
| 1993 | 340,022 | +69.5% |
| 1994 | 571,720 | +68.1% |
| 1995 | 1.01 million | +75.8% |
| 1996 | 1.52 million | +51.3% |
| 1997 | 2.00 million | +31.6% |
| 1998 | 2.20 million | +10.0% |
| 1999 | 2.99 million | +35.9% |
| 2000 | 5.12 million | +71.3% |
| 2001 | 7.38 million | +44.2% |
| 2002 | 9.05 million | +22.6% |
| 2003 | 11.12 million | +22.9% |
| 2004 | 14.61 million | +31.3% |
| 2005 | 19.55 million | +33.8% |
| 2006 | 19.46 million | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 23.35 million | +20.0% |
| 2008 | 27.71 million | +18.7% |
| 2009 | 30.14 million | +8.8% |
| 2010 | 33.86 million | +12.3% |
| 2011 | 36.66 million | +8.3% |
| 2012 | 41.32 million | +12.7% |
| 2013 | 43.01 million | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 44.93 million | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 44.10 million | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 43.46 million | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 42.34 million | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 42.41 million | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 44.60 million | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 43.72 million | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 47.20 million | +8.0% |
| 2022 | 47.95 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 50.14 million | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 49.66 million | -0.9% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 49.66 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.01 million, 6.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 49.66 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.10 million, 12.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 9,495 | 0 | 39,419 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.10 million | 86,620 | 2.99 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.75 million | 5.12 million | 30.14 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.67 million | 33.86 million | 44.93 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.74 million | 43.72 million | 50.14 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More infrastructure data for Malaysia
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 139.66 per 100 people (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 49.66 million 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 50.14 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1960.
- How does Malaysia rank for mobile cellular subscriptions?
- Malaysia ranks 38th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.