China vs United States: Landline phone subscriptions
China
166.51 million
in 2024
United States
81.55 million
in 2024
China rank
1st
United States rank
2nd
Landline phone subscriptions over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
China currently reports 166.51 million against 81.55 million in United States, a difference of 84.96 million.
That makes China's figure about 2.0 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 50 shared years of data; in 1975 it was United States ahead.
China ranks 1st and United States ranks 2nd of 212 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 3 and United States in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.85 million | 85.69 million | 83.84 million | United States |
| 1980s | 3.29 million | 114.62 million | 111.33 million | United States |
| 1990s | 43.35 million | 158.97 million | 115.63 million | United States |
| 2000s | 285.19 million | 175.06 million | 110.12 million | China |
| 2010s | 238.86 million | 127.25 million | 111.60 million | China |
| 2020s | 177.59 million | 91.27 million | 86.32 million | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher landline phone subscriptions, China or United States?
- China, at 166.51 million against 81.55 million in United States as of 2024.
- What is the difference in landline phone subscriptions between China and United States?
- 84.96 million, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 50 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2024.
- How do China and United States rank globally for landline phone subscriptions?
- China ranks 1st and United States ranks 2nd of 212 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Landline phone subscriptions. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.