Arab World: Fixed broadband subscriptions

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2022, Arab World's fixed broadband subscriptions rose 3.8% on 2021 (from 44.45 million to 46.12 million).

Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2005 to 2021), the average change was +36.7% and a typical year strayed about 36.7% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 135.5% in 2005 and the biggest yearly fall was 14% in 2013. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2013 to 2022 the straight-line trend is upward, about 4.34 million a year. A straight line explains 99% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

A straight-line projection, tested first

Extending that straight line gives about 57.06 million for 2025. We show this only because the same method, fitted on earlier years, predicted 2020 to 2022 better than "no change" would have: its average miss was 6.61 million, against 10.06 million for assuming no change. Treat it as a continuation of the recent pattern, not a forecast of events: it cannot see a recession, a policy change or a revision to the data.

See how a linear trend forecast works and the guide on forecasting without fooling yourself.

How it compares

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

What this measures

Fixed broadband subscriptions refers to fixed subscriptions to high-speed access to the public Internet (a TCP/IP connection), at downstream speeds equal to, or greater than, 256 kbit/s. This includes cable modem, DSL, fiber-to-the-home/building, other fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions, satellite broadband and terrestrial fixed wireless broadband. This total is measured irrespective of the method of payment. It excludes subscriptions that have access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile-cellular networks. It should include fixed WiMAX and any other fixed wireless technologies. It includes both residential subscriptions and subscriptions for organizations.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 19 values

Fixed broadband subscriptions in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 33,200 (2023)
• Algeria — 6.23 million (2024)
• Bahrain — 273,063 (2024)
• Djibouti — 16,972 (2023)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 13.62 million (2024)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 11.04 million (2024)
• Iraq — 8.12 million (2024)
• Israel — 2.74 million (2024)
• Jordan — 810,782 (2024)
• Kuwait — 49,049 (2023)
• Lebanon — 418,869 (2022)

More infrastructure data for Arab World

• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 37.45 million (2022)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 9.48 (2022)
• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 1.59 million (2023)
• Air transport, freight (million ton-km) — 31,179 (2023)
• Air transport, passengers carried — 251.73 million (2023)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 430.82 million (2022)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 102.93 (2022)
• Scientific and technical journal articles — 110,916 (2023)
• ICT service exports (BoP, current US$) — US$24.08 billion (2024)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Arab World's fixed broadband subscriptions?

46.12 million in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2004?

It is up 12,502% from 365,937 in 2004 (30.83% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 46.12 million in 2022 and the lowest 365,937 in 2004.

Is the latest change in fixed broadband subscriptions unusual for Arab World?

In 2022, Arab World's fixed broadband subscriptions rose 3.8% on 2021 (from 44.45 million to 46.12 million). Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2005 to 2021), the average change was +36.7% and a typical year strayed about 36.7% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IT.NET.BBND, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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