Malawi Mobile Subscriptions
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people IT.CEL.SETS.P2
Malawi's mobile subscriptions was 70.47 in 2025, ranked 177th globally. This represents a 15.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Malawi's mobile subscriptions stood at 70.47 in 2025, a rise of +9.39 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 70.47 by 2025. Malawi ranked 177th globally.
Malawi recorded 70.47 mobile subscriptions per 100 people in 2025, marking both its latest value and all-time peak, a significant rise from a trough of 0.00 in 1994 when mobile infrastructure was absent. Over a 53-year span of available data, this growth reflects the broader expansion of telecommunications access across the country, particularly since the liberalization of the sector in the early 2000s. At its current level, Malawi’s subscription rate is slightly below that of Niger, which stood at 72.37 in 2025, and marginally above that of West Bank and Gaza at 70.20, placing it 177th globally. The near-zero figures before the mid-1990s underscore the delayed rollout of mobile networks, with meaningful adoption only beginning in the 2000s. While the 2025 peak suggests continued penetration, the rate appears to be approaching saturation given Malawi’s underlying income constraints and rural-urban infrastructure gaps. Future growth in mobile subscriptions will likely depend on expanded network coverage in rural areas, declining handset costs, and improvements in electricity access, without which the current upward trend may plateau.
Data & projection
| Year | Mobile Subscriptions | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 74.18 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 70.47 | - | - |
| 2025 | 70.47 | +9.39 | #177 |
| 2023 | 61.09 | +1.44 | #153 |
| 2022 | 59.65 | +0.09 | #190 |
| 2021 | 59.56 | +8.34 | #187 |
| 2020 | 51.22 | +4.43 | #191 |
| 2019 | 46.78 | +8.59 | #191 |
| 2018 | 38.20 | −4.89 | #187 |
| 2017 | 43.09 | +2.20 | #187 |
| 2016 | 40.88 | +2.45 | #189 |
| 2015 | 38.43 | +4.55 | #195 |
| 2014 | 33.89 | +1.16 | #195 |
| 2013 | 32.73 | +3.15 | #192 |
| 2012 | 29.58 | +3.69 | #193 |
| 2011 | 25.89 | +4.86 | #189 |
| 2010 | 21.03 | +3.76 | #195 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw mobile subscriptions improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's mobile subscriptions was 70.47 in 2025. Ranked 177th globally. This represents a 15.4% increase from the previous year.
Malawi's mobile subscriptions peaked at 70.47 in 2025.
The lowest mobile subscriptions in Malawi was 0.00 in 1960.
Malawi ranks 177th globally in mobile subscriptions as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is IT.CEL.SETS.P2. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's mobile subscriptions is projected to reach 70.47 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The mobile subscriptions of Malawi in 2025 was 70.47. This ranks 177th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_mobile-subscriptions,
title = {Malawi Mobile Subscriptions},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/mobile-subscriptions/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}