Mobile phone subscriptions in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Mobile phone subscriptions was 25.63 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Afghanistan, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in Afghanistan stood at 25.63 million. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 11.3% on the previous year and up 39.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Afghanistan peaked at 25.63 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Afghanistan ranks 56th of 212 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 phone subscriptions in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 25,000 | — |
| 2003 | 200,000 | +700.0% |
| 2004 | 600,000 | +200.0% |
| 2005 | 1.20 million | +100.0% |
| 2006 | 2.52 million | +110.0% |
| 2007 | 4.67 million | +85.2% |
| 2008 | 7.90 million | +69.2% |
| 2009 | 10.50 million | +32.9% |
| 2010 | 10.22 million | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 13.80 million | +35.1% |
| 2012 | 15.34 million | +11.2% |
| 2013 | 16.81 million | +9.6% |
| 2014 | 18.41 million | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 19.71 million | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 21.60 million | +9.6% |
| 2017 | 23.93 million | +10.8% |
| 2018 | 21.98 million | -8.2% |
| 2019 | 22.58 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 22.68 million | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 22.68 million | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 22.83 million | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 23.03 million | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 25.63 million | +11.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 25.63 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 15.00 million, 1.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 25.63 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.65 million, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +700.0% | 25,000 | 200,000 |
| 2004 | +200.0% | 200,000 | 600,000 |
| 2006 | +110.0% | 1.20 million | 2.52 million |
| 2005 | +100.0% | 600,000 | 1.20 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.76 million | 0 | 10.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.44 million | 10.22 million | 23.93 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.37 million | 22.68 million | 25.63 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 53 Chile 26.22 million compare
- 54 Kazakhstan 26.17 million compare
- 55 Mali 25.87 million compare
- 57 Madagascar 23.54 million compare
- 58 Netherlands 23.43 million compare
- 59 Zambia 23.17 million compare
More science & technology data for Afghanistan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 60.1 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.601 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0014 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 25.63 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 35.31 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 11.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 168.85 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Afghanistan?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Afghanistan was 25.63 million in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 25.63 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Afghanistan rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Afghanistan ranks 56th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).