Mobile phone subscriptions in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan: Mobile phone subscriptions was 6.25 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Turkmenistan, 1980–2021
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Turkmenistan recorded 6.25 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2021.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Turkmenistan peaked at 8.57 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Turkmenistan 117th out of 212 countries with data for 2021, 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 Turkmenistan, 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 | 2,500 | — |
| 1998 | 3,000 | +20.0% |
| 1999 | 4,000 | +33.3% |
| 2000 | 7,500 | +87.5% |
| 2001 | 8,173 | +9.0% |
| 2002 | 8,173 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 9,187 | +12.4% |
| 2004 | 50,100 | +445.3% |
| 2005 | 105,000 | +109.6% |
| 2006 | 216,868 | +106.5% |
| 2007 | 381,670 | +76.0% |
| 2008 | 1.14 million | +197.4% |
| 2009 | 2.13 million | +87.9% |
| 2010 | 3.20 million | +49.9% |
| 2011 | 5.30 million | +65.7% |
| 2012 | 5.90 million | +11.3% |
| 2013 | 6.13 million | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 7.21 million | +17.6% |
| 2015 | 7.84 million | +8.8% |
| 2016 | 8.57 million | +9.3% |
| 2018 | 5.84 million | -31.9% |
| 2019 | 6.00 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 6.16 million | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 6.25 million | +1.5% |
Turkmenistan compared with similar countries
- Turkmenistan's 6.25 million is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.03 million, 78% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Turkmenistan's 6.25 million is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.71 million, 81% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Turkmenistan 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 | +445.3% | 9,187 | 50,100 |
| 2008 | +197.4% | 381,670 | 1.14 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 950 | 0 | 4,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 405,471 | 7,500 | 2.13 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.22 million | 3.20 million | 8.57 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 6.21 million | 6.16 million | 6.25 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near Turkmenistan
More science & technology data for Turkmenistan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 88.19 (2021)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.8819 units per person (2021)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 6.25 million (2021)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 13.31 units per square kilometre (2021)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.575 % change on previous year (2021)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.46 % change on previous year (2021)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 31.31 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Turkmenistan?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Turkmenistan was 6.25 million in 2021, 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 Turkmenistan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.57 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Turkmenistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Turkmenistan rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Turkmenistan ranks 117th out of 212 countries with data for 2021.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Turkmenistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkmenistan 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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