China: Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, China's fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) rose 2.46 on 2023 (from 44.73 to 47.19).

Across the 23 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2023), the average change was +1.94 and a typical year strayed about 1.49 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above 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 5.4 in 2015. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 3 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 56.64 for 2027. We show this only because the same method, fitted on earlier years, predicted 2022 to 2024 better than "no change" would have: its average miss was 1.85, against 6.87 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

In 2024, China had the 8th highest value of the 151 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to China in the 2024 ranking

• Liechtenstein — 4th of 151: 50.01
• France — 5th of 151: 48.93
• Korea, Rep. — 6th of 151: 47.8
• Switzerland — 8th of 151: 47.02
• Germany — 9th of 151: 45.61
• Portugal — 10th of 151: 45.24

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.

Limitations: Data are collected by national statistics offices through household surveys. Because survey questions and definitions differ, the estimates may not be strictly comparable across countries. Fixed broadband Internet includes cable modem, DSL, fibre and other fixed broadband technology (such as satellite broadband Internet, Ethernet LANs, fixed-wireless access, Wireless Local Area Network, WiMAX etc.). Subscribers with access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile cellular networks are excluded. Advertised and real speeds can differ substantially.

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

All 25 values

Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) in nearby economies

• Australia — 36.48 (2024)
• Brunei Darussalam — 21.18 (2024)
• Cambodia — 4.15 (2024)
• Fiji — 1.8 (2024)
• French Polynesia — 35.55 (2023)
• Guam — 1.84 (2022)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 40.27 (2024)
• Indonesia — 4.92 (2024)
• Japan — 38.63 (2023)
• Kiribati — 0.03 (2024)

More infrastructure data for China

• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 1.87 billion (2024)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 131.75 (2024)
• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 4.91 million (2023)
• Air transport, freight (million ton-km) — 26,170 (2023)
• Air transport, passengers carried — 619.22 million (2023)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 166.51 million (2024)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 11.73 (2024)
• ICT service exports (BoP, current US$) — US$73.61 billion (2025)
• ICT service exports (% of service exports, BoP) — 19.14% (2025)
• Industrial design applications, nonresident, by count

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 China's fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people)?

47.19 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2000?

It is up 2.64 million% from 0.00178 in 2000 (52.85% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 47.19 in 2024 and the lowest 0.00178 in 2000.

How does China rank?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IT.NET.BBND.P2, 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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