Mobile phone subscriptions in India
India: Mobile phone subscriptions was 1.15 billion in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.15 billion
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
2nd
of 212 countries
All-time high
1.18 billion
in 2018
All-time low
0
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Mobile phone subscriptions in India, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile phone subscriptions in India is 1.15 billion, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in India peaked at 1.18 billion in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places India 2nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in India, 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 | 76,680 | — |
| 1996 | 327,967 | +327.7% |
| 1997 | 881,839 | +168.9% |
| 1998 | 1.20 million | +35.6% |
| 1999 | 1.88 million | +57.6% |
| 2000 | 3.58 million | +89.8% |
| 2001 | 6.54 million | +82.8% |
| 2002 | 13.00 million | +98.8% |
| 2003 | 33.69 million | +159.2% |
| 2004 | 52.22 million | +55.0% |
| 2005 | 90.14 million | +72.6% |
| 2006 | 166.05 million | +84.2% |
| 2007 | 233.62 million | +40.7% |
| 2008 | 346.89 million | +48.5% |
| 2009 | 525.09 million | +51.4% |
| 2010 | 752.19 million | +43.2% |
| 2011 | 893.86 million | +18.8% |
| 2012 | 864.72 million | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 886.30 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 944.01 million | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 1.00 billion | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 1.13 billion | +12.7% |
| 2017 | 1.17 billion | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 1.18 billion | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 1.15 billion | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 1.15 billion | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 1.15 billion | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.14 billion | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 1.16 billion | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 1.15 billion | -0.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 1.15 billion is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 94.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 1.15 billion is above the median for South Asia, which is 30.11 million, 38.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 436,620 | 0 | 1.88 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 147.08 million | 3.58 million | 525.09 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 996.64 million | 752.19 million | 1.18 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.15 billion | 1.14 billion | 1.16 billion | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More science & technology data for India
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 79.35 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.7935 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 1.15 billion (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 389.67 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -1.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.6206 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 228,174 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in India?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in India was 1.15 billion 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 1.18 billion in 2018.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does India rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- India ranks 2nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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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