Landline phone subscriptions in India
India: Landline phone subscriptions was 39.24 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
39.24 million
Change on year
up 26.8%
World rank
4th
of 212 countries
All-time high
50.18 million
in 2005
All-time low
332,399
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Landline phone subscriptions in India, 1960–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 39.24 million for landline phone subscriptions in 2024.
The figure is up 26.8% on the previous year and up 45.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, landline phone subscriptions in India peaked at 50.18 million in 2005 and was at its lowest, 332,399, in 1960.
India ranks 4th of 212 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Landline phone subscriptions in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 332,399 | — |
| 1961 | 332,399 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 332,399 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 332,399 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 332,399 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 623,394 | +87.5% |
| 1966 | 623,394 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 623,394 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 623,394 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 623,394 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 981,356 | +57.4% |
| 1971 | 981,356 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 981,356 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 981,356 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 981,356 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.47 million | +49.3% |
| 1976 | 1.61 million | +10.1% |
| 1977 | 1.73 million | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 1.87 million | +8.2% |
| 1979 | 2.02 million | +7.9% |
| 1980 | 2.15 million | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 2.30 million | +6.8% |
| 1982 | 2.47 million | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 2.67 million | +8.2% |
| 1984 | 2.90 million | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 3.17 million | +9.2% |
| 1986 | 3.49 million | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 3.80 million | +9.0% |
| 1988 | 4.17 million | +9.8% |
| 1989 | 4.59 million | +9.9% |
| 1990 | 5.07 million | +10.6% |
| 1991 | 5.81 million | +14.5% |
| 1992 | 6.80 million | +17.0% |
| 1993 | 8.03 million | +18.1% |
| 1994 | 9.80 million | +22.1% |
| 1995 | 11.98 million | +22.3% |
| 1996 | 14.54 million | +21.4% |
| 1997 | 17.80 million | +22.4% |
| 1998 | 21.59 million | +21.3% |
| 1999 | 26.51 million | +22.8% |
| 2000 | 32.44 million | +22.3% |
| 2001 | 38.54 million | +18.8% |
| 2002 | 41.42 million | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 42.00 million | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 46.20 million | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 50.18 million | +8.6% |
| 2006 | 40.77 million | -18.7% |
| 2007 | 39.25 million | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 37.90 million | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 37.06 million | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 35.09 million | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 32.84 million | -6.4% |
| 2012 | 30.94 million | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 29.03 million | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 27.00 million | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 25.52 million | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 24.40 million | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 23.23 million | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 21.87 million | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 21.00 million | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 20.05 million | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 23.77 million | +18.6% |
| 2022 | 27.45 million | +15.5% |
| 2023 | 30.93 million | +12.7% |
| 2024 | 39.24 million | +26.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 39.24 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 102,714, 382.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 39.24 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 346,336, 113.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Landline phone subscriptions in India 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | +87.5% | 332,399 | 623,394 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 477,896 | 332,399 | 623,394 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.36 million | 981,356 | 2.02 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.17 million | 2.15 million | 4.59 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.79 million | 5.07 million | 26.51 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.57 million | 32.44 million | 50.18 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.09 million | 21.00 million | 35.09 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.29 million | 20.05 million | 39.24 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is landline phone subscriptions in India?
- Landline phone subscriptions in India was 39.24 million in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest landline phone subscriptions recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 50.18 million in 2005.
- What is the lowest landline phone subscriptions recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 332,399 in 1960.
- How does India rank for landline phone subscriptions?
- India ranks 4th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is landline phone subscriptions rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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 Landline phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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