Mobile phone subscriptions in Iran
Iran: Mobile phone subscriptions was 159.39 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Iran, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iran recorded 159.39 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 5.8% on the previous year and up 131.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Iran peaked at 159.39 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Iran ranks 11th 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 Iran, 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 | 9,200 | — |
| 1995 | 15,902 | +72.8% |
| 1996 | 59,967 | +277.1% |
| 1997 | 238,942 | +298.5% |
| 1998 | 389,974 | +63.2% |
| 1999 | 490,478 | +25.8% |
| 2000 | 962,595 | +96.3% |
| 2001 | 2.09 million | +116.8% |
| 2002 | 2.28 million | +9.2% |
| 2003 | 3.45 million | +51.4% |
| 2004 | 5.08 million | +47.1% |
| 2005 | 8.51 million | +67.7% |
| 2006 | 15.39 million | +80.8% |
| 2007 | 29.77 million | +93.5% |
| 2008 | 43.00 million | +44.4% |
| 2009 | 52.55 million | +22.2% |
| 2010 | 54.05 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 56.04 million | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 58.16 million | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 65.25 million | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 68.89 million | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 74.22 million | +7.7% |
| 2016 | 80.52 million | +8.5% |
| 2017 | 87.05 million | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 88.72 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 118.06 million | +33.1% |
| 2020 | 127.62 million | +8.1% |
| 2021 | 135.89 million | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 145.67 million | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 150.66 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 159.39 million | +5.8% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 159.39 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.03 million, 19.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 159.39 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.65 million, 9.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Iran 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 | +298.5% | 59,967 | 238,942 |
| 1996 | +277.1% | 15,902 | 59,967 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 120,446 | 0 | 490,478 | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.31 million | 962,595 | 52.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.10 million | 54.05 million | 118.06 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 143.85 million | 127.62 million | 159.39 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More science & technology data for Iran
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 174.07 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.74 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 159.39 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 92.86 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 55,085 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0006 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Iran?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Iran was 159.39 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 159.39 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Iran rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Iran ranks 11th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 131.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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).