Maldives Mobile Subscriptions
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people IT.CEL.SETS.P2
Maldives's mobile subscriptions was 120.38 in 2025, ranked 95th globally. This represents a 15.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Maldives's mobile subscriptions stood at 120.38 in 2025, a decline of +21.22 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 120.38 by 2025. Maldives ranked 95th globally.
Maldives’ mobile‑subscription density rose from zero in 1960 to 120.38 per 100 inhabitants in 2025, placing the archipelago at rank 95 globally. The rapid expansion accelerated after the mid‑1990s, reaching an all‑time peak of 196.41 in 2017, a level that still exceeds the current figure by more than 30 percent and underscores the intensity of the earlier boom. By contrast, Bangladesh records a slightly higher density of 120.84, while Croatia stands at 119.92, illustrating that Maldives now aligns with middle‑income economies despite its small population. The 1995 trough of zero subscriptions reflects the pre‑digital era, after which mobile penetration grew steadily as infrastructure improved and service costs fell. With 53 years of data, the trajectory suggests that continued investment in 5G networks and affordable data plans could revive the upward swing, potentially restoring levels nearer to the 2017 apex.
Data & projection
| Year | Mobile Subscriptions | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 114.10 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 120.38 | - | - |
| 2025 | 120.38 | −21.22 | #95 |
| 2023 | 141.60 | +5.14 | #35 |
| 2022 | 136.46 | −0.33 | #46 |
| 2021 | 136.79 | −6.15 | #39 |
| 2020 | 142.94 | −26.84 | #23 |
| 2019 | 169.77 | −11.57 | #7 |
| 2018 | 181.34 | −15.07 | #5 |
| 2017 | 196.41 | +13.21 | #5 |
| 2016 | 183.20 | +10.41 | #7 |
| 2015 | 172.79 | +11.81 | #8 |
| 2014 | 160.98 | +4.71 | #11 |
| 2013 | 156.26 | +11.35 | #20 |
| 2012 | 144.91 | +2.96 | #29 |
| 2011 | 141.96 | +4.94 | #25 |
| 2010 | 137.02 | +5.58 | #24 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Maldives matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2011. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw mobile subscriptions improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Maldives's mobile subscriptions was 120.38 in 2025. Ranked 95th globally. This represents a 15.0% decrease from the previous year.
Maldives's mobile subscriptions peaked at 196.41 in 2017.
The lowest mobile subscriptions in Maldives was 0.00 in 1960.
Maldives ranks 95th globally in mobile subscriptions as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is IT.CEL.SETS.P2. Data sourced from World Bank.
Maldives's mobile subscriptions is projected to reach 120.38 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The mobile subscriptions of Maldives in 2025 was 120.38. This ranks 95th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_maldives_mobile-subscriptions,
title = {Maldives Mobile Subscriptions},
url = {https://historysaid.com/maldives/mobile-subscriptions/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}