Mobile phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Mobile phone subscriptions was 30.62 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 30.62 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024.
That represents a change of down 6.3% on the previous year and up 38.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka peaked at 34.65 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Sri Lanka 47th 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 Sri Lanka, 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 | 1,010 | — |
| 1991 | 1,800 | +78.2% |
| 1992 | 2,644 | +46.9% |
| 1993 | 14,687 | +455.5% |
| 1994 | 29,182 | +98.7% |
| 1995 | 51,316 | +75.8% |
| 1996 | 71,029 | +38.4% |
| 1997 | 114,888 | +61.7% |
| 1998 | 174,202 | +51.6% |
| 1999 | 256,655 | +47.3% |
| 2000 | 430,202 | +67.6% |
| 2001 | 667,662 | +55.2% |
| 2002 | 931,403 | +39.5% |
| 2003 | 1.39 million | +49.6% |
| 2004 | 2.21 million | +58.7% |
| 2005 | 3.36 million | +52.0% |
| 2006 | 5.41 million | +61.0% |
| 2007 | 7.98 million | +47.5% |
| 2008 | 11.08 million | +38.8% |
| 2009 | 16.31 million | +47.1% |
| 2010 | 17.36 million | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 18.32 million | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 19.33 million | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 20.32 million | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 22.12 million | +8.9% |
| 2015 | 23.90 million | +8.0% |
| 2016 | 25.80 million | +7.9% |
| 2017 | 28.20 million | +9.3% |
| 2018 | 30.28 million | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 28.35 million | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 29.73 million | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 30.76 million | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 34.65 million | +12.6% |
| 2023 | 32.68 million | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 30.62 million | -6.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 30.62 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.03 million, 3.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 30.62 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 30.11 million, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +455.5% | 2,644 | 14,687 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 71,741 | 1,010 | 256,655 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.98 million | 430,202 | 16.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.40 million | 17.36 million | 30.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.69 million | 29.73 million | 34.65 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More science & technology data for Sri Lanka
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 132.55 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.4 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 30.62 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 528.35 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -6.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -6.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 2,322 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka was 30.62 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 34.65 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Sri Lanka ranks 47th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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