Mobile phone subscriptions in Iraq
Iraq: Mobile phone subscriptions was 46.08 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Iraq, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in Iraq stood at 46.08 million. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 39.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Iraq peaked at 46.08 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Iraq 39th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Iraq, 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 | 20,000 | — |
| 2003 | 80,000 | +300.0% |
| 2004 | 574,000 | +617.5% |
| 2005 | 1.53 million | +167.1% |
| 2006 | 9.35 million | +509.6% |
| 2007 | 14.02 million | +50.0% |
| 2008 | 17.53 million | +25.0% |
| 2009 | 20.12 million | +14.8% |
| 2010 | 23.26 million | +15.6% |
| 2011 | 25.52 million | +9.7% |
| 2012 | 26.76 million | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 32.45 million | +21.3% |
| 2014 | 33.00 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 33.56 million | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 33.45 million | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 33.42 million | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 36.53 million | +9.3% |
| 2019 | 37.22 million | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 37.48 million | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 40.75 million | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 43.69 million | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 45.70 million | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 46.08 million | +0.8% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 46.08 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.03 million, 5.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 46.08 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.65 million, 2.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +617.5% | 80,000 | 574,000 |
| 2006 | +509.6% | 1.53 million | 9.35 million |
| 2003 | +300.0% | 20,000 | 80,000 |
| 2005 | +167.1% | 574,000 | 1.53 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.32 million | 0 | 20.12 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.52 million | 23.26 million | 37.22 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.74 million | 37.48 million | 46.08 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More science & technology data for Iraq
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 100.08 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 46.08 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 105.27 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.8293 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 16,724 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0004 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Iraq?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Iraq was 46.08 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 46.08 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Iraq rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Iraq ranks 39th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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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