Iran vs Pakistan: Mobile phone subscriptions
Iran
159.39 million
in 2024
Pakistan
193.11 million
in 2024
Iran rank
11th
Pakistan rank
8th
Mobile phone subscriptions over time
- Iran
- Pakistan
How they compare
Pakistan currently reports 193.11 million against 159.39 million in Iran, a difference of 33.72 million.
That makes Pakistan's figure about 1.2 times Iran's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 45 shared years of data; in 1980 it was Pakistan ahead.
Iran ranks 11th and Pakistan ranks 8th of 212 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, Iran averaged higher in 1 and Pakistan in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iran | Pakistan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1990s | 120,446 | 77,040 | 43,406 | Iran |
| 2000s | 16.31 million | 30.27 million | 13.96 million | Pakistan |
| 2010s | 75.10 million | 131.80 million | 56.71 million | Pakistan |
| 2020s | 143.85 million | 187.93 million | 44.09 million | Pakistan |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher mobile phone subscriptions, Iran or Pakistan?
- Pakistan, at 193.11 million against 159.39 million in Iran as of 2024.
- What is the difference in mobile phone subscriptions between Iran and Pakistan?
- 33.72 million, with Pakistan ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iran and Pakistan?
- 45 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
- How do Iran and Pakistan rank globally for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Iran ranks 11th and Pakistan ranks 8th of 212 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.