Landline phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Landline phone subscriptions was 1.58 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Landline phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka, 1960–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for landline phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka is 1.58 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.3% on the previous year and down 41.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, landline phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka peaked at 3.61 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 22,772, in 1960.
Sri Lanka ranks 54th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Landline phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 22,772 | — |
| 1961 | 22,772 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 22,772 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 22,772 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 22,772 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 27,700 | +21.6% |
| 1966 | 27,700 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 27,700 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 27,700 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 27,700 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 37,100 | +33.9% |
| 1971 | 37,100 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 37,100 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 37,100 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 37,100 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 42,500 | +14.6% |
| 1976 | 43,550 | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 44,625 | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 45,700 | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 47,400 | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 54,200 | +14.3% |
| 1981 | 66,013 | +21.8% |
| 1982 | 70,381 | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 73,500 | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 80,770 | +9.9% |
| 1985 | 87,686 | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 92,065 | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 97,333 | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 103,521 | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 105,483 | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 121,388 | +15.1% |
| 1991 | 125,834 | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 135,504 | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 157,774 | +16.4% |
| 1994 | 180,724 | +14.5% |
| 1995 | 204,350 | +13.1% |
| 1996 | 255,049 | +24.8% |
| 1997 | 341,622 | +33.9% |
| 1998 | 523,529 | +53.2% |
| 1999 | 669,113 | +27.8% |
| 2000 | 767,411 | +14.7% |
| 2001 | 827,195 | +7.8% |
| 2002 | 883,108 | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 939,013 | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 991,239 | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 1.24 million | +25.5% |
| 2006 | 1.88 million | +51.5% |
| 2007 | 2.74 million | +45.5% |
| 2008 | 3.45 million | +25.7% |
| 2009 | 3.44 million | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 3.58 million | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 3.61 million | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 3.45 million | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 2.71 million | -21.5% |
| 2014 | 2.71 million | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 3.29 million | +21.3% |
| 2016 | 2.48 million | -24.6% |
| 2017 | 2.60 million | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 2.47 million | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 2.29 million | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 2.61 million | +13.8% |
| 2021 | 2.87 million | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 2.58 million | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 1.71 million | -33.9% |
| 2024 | 1.58 million | -7.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.58 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 734,874, 2.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1.58 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 346,336, 4.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Landline 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +53.2% | 341,622 | 523,529 |
| 2006 | +51.5% | 1.24 million | 1.88 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25,236 | 22,772 | 27,700 | 10 |
| 1970s | 40,928 | 37,100 | 47,400 | 10 |
| 1980s | 83,095 | 54,200 | 105,483 | 10 |
| 1990s | 271,489 | 121,388 | 669,113 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.72 million | 767,411 | 3.45 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.92 million | 2.29 million | 3.61 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.27 million | 1.58 million | 2.87 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is landline phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka?
- Landline phone subscriptions in Sri Lanka was 1.58 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 3.61 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest landline phone subscriptions recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 22,772 in 1960.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for landline phone subscriptions?
- Sri Lanka ranks 54th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is landline phone subscriptions rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.6%. 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 Landline phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).