Mobile phone subscriptions in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Mobile phone subscriptions was 187.58 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Bangladesh, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in Bangladesh stood at 187.58 million.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and up 47.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Bangladesh peaked at 190.81 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Bangladesh ranks 9th of 212 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Bangladesh, 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 | 250 | — |
| 1993 | 500 | +100.0% |
| 1994 | 1,104 | +120.8% |
| 1995 | 2,500 | +126.4% |
| 1996 | 4,000 | +60.0% |
| 1997 | 26,000 | +550.0% |
| 1998 | 75,000 | +188.5% |
| 1999 | 149,000 | +98.7% |
| 2000 | 279,000 | +87.2% |
| 2001 | 520,000 | +86.4% |
| 2002 | 1.07 million | +106.7% |
| 2003 | 1.36 million | +27.0% |
| 2004 | 2.78 million | +103.8% |
| 2005 | 9.00 million | +223.6% |
| 2006 | 19.13 million | +112.6% |
| 2007 | 34.37 million | +79.7% |
| 2008 | 44.64 million | +29.9% |
| 2009 | 51.36 million | +15.1% |
| 2010 | 67.92 million | +32.3% |
| 2011 | 84.37 million | +24.2% |
| 2012 | 97.18 million | +15.2% |
| 2013 | 116.55 million | +19.9% |
| 2014 | 126.87 million | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 131.38 million | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 135.98 million | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 150.94 million | +11.0% |
| 2018 | 161.77 million | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 165.57 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 176.28 million | +6.5% |
| 2021 | 184.44 million | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 186.10 million | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 190.81 million | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 187.58 million | -1.7% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 187.58 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 15.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 187.58 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 30.11 million, 6.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Bangladesh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +550.0% | 4,000 | 26,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 25,835 | 0 | 149,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.45 million | 279,000 | 51.36 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 123.85 million | 67.92 million | 165.57 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 185.04 million | 176.28 million | 190.81 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More science & technology data for Bangladesh
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 108.08 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.08 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 187.58 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 1,468 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -2.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -1.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 8,259 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Bangladesh?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Bangladesh was 187.58 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 Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 190.81 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Bangladesh rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Bangladesh ranks 9th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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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