Mobile phone subscriptions in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Mobile phone subscriptions was 4.10 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Papua New Guinea, 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 Papua New Guinea is 4.10 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 15.9% on the previous year and up 22.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Papua New Guinea peaked at 5.02 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Papua New Guinea 133rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Papua New Guinea, 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 | 2,285 | — |
| 1997 | 3,857 | +68.8% |
| 1998 | 5,558 | +44.1% |
| 1999 | 7,059 | +27.0% |
| 2000 | 8,560 | +21.3% |
| 2001 | 10,700 | +25.0% |
| 2002 | 15,000 | +40.2% |
| 2003 | 17,500 | +16.7% |
| 2004 | 48,311 | +176.1% |
| 2005 | 75,000 | +55.2% |
| 2006 | 100,000 | +33.3% |
| 2007 | 300,000 | +200.0% |
| 2008 | 874,000 | +191.3% |
| 2009 | 1.42 million | +62.2% |
| 2010 | 1.91 million | +34.7% |
| 2011 | 2.40 million | +25.7% |
| 2012 | 2.71 million | +12.9% |
| 2013 | 3.00 million | +10.7% |
| 2014 | 3.36 million | +12.0% |
| 2015 | 3.56 million | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 3.78 million | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 4.02 million | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 4.30 million | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 4.54 million | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 4.82 million | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 4.82 million | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 5.02 million | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 3.54 million | -29.5% |
| 2024 | 4.10 million | +15.9% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 4.10 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 34% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 4.10 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.10 million, 1.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Papua New Guinea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +200.0% | 100,000 | 300,000 |
| 2008 | +191.3% | 300,000 | 874,000 |
| 2004 | +176.1% | 17,500 | 48,311 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,876 | 0 | 7,059 | 10 |
| 2000s | 286,662 | 8,560 | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.36 million | 1.91 million | 4.54 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.46 million | 3.54 million | 5.02 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More science & technology data for Papua New Guinea
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 38.77 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.3877 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 4.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 7.81 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 13.82 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 15.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 69.76 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Papua New Guinea?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Papua New Guinea was 4.10 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 Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.02 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 133rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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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