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Historical Values
Year Value
1996 20 million (1994 est.)
1997 20 million (1994 est.)
1998 89 million (1997 est.); note-there are 2.5 telephones per 100 urban population and 7.2 telephones per 100 total population
1999 105 million (1998 est.)
2000 110 million (1999 est.)
2001 135 million (2000)
2002 135 million (2000)
2003 135 million (2000)
2004 263 million (2003)
2005 263 million (2003)
2006 350.433 million (2005)
2007 368 million (2006)
2008 365.4 million (2007)
2009 365.6 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 1
2010 313.68 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 1
2011 294.383 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 1
2012 285.115 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 1
2013 278.86 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 1
2014 278.86 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 1
2015 total subscriptions: 249.4 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1
2016 total subscriptions: 230.996 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1
2017 total subscriptions: 206.624 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1
2018 total subscriptions: 193.762 million (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2017 est.)
2019 total subscriptions: 193.762 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2017 est.)
2020 total subscriptions: 185,097,221 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13.32 (2019 est.)
2021 total subscriptions: 181.908 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12.64 (2020 est.)
2022 total subscriptions: 181.908 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)
2023 total subscriptions: 180,700,500 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2021 est.)
2024 total subscriptions: 179.414 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2022 est.)
2025 total subscriptions: 167 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)