Saudi Arabia: Fixed broadband subscriptions

Key figures

Over five years it is up 120.05% from 6.8 million in 2019 (17.09% a year on average, compounded). Since 2001 it is up 106,811% from 14,000 in 2001 (35.42% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 2 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Saudi Arabia's fixed broadband subscriptions rose 3.3% on 2023 (from 14.49 million to 14.97 million).

Across the 19 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2023), the average change was +47.2% and a typical year strayed about 65.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.7 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 221.8% in 2006 and the biggest yearly fall was 1.3% in 2005. 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 1.1 million a year. A straight line explains 85% 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.

How it compares

In 2024, Saudi Arabia had the 17th 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 Saudi Arabia in the 2024 ranking

• Italy — 13th of 151: 18.86 million
• Spain — 14th of 151: 18.8 million
• Canada — 15th of 151: 16.9 million
• Bangladesh — 17th of 151: 14.04 million
• Indonesia — 18th of 151: 13.95 million
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 19th of 151: 13.62 million

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 22 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 Saudi Arabia

• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 302,451 (2023)
• Air transport, freight (million ton-km) — 1,037 (2023)
• Air transport, passengers carried — 47.98 million (2023)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 6.71 million (2024)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 19.75 (2024)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 54.18 million (2024)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 159.54 (2024)
• Medium and high-tech exports (% manufactured exports) — 35.4% (2024)
• Patent applications, nonresidents — 4,921 (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 Saudi Arabia's fixed broadband subscriptions?

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

How has it changed since 2001?

It is up 106,811% from 14,000 in 2001 (35.42% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 14.97 million in 2024 and the lowest 14,000 in 2001.

How does Saudi Arabia rank?

17th highest of 151 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in fixed broadband subscriptions unusual for Saudi Arabia?

In 2024, Saudi Arabia's fixed broadband subscriptions rose 3.3% on 2023 (from 14.49 million to 14.97 million). Across the 19 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2023), the average change was +47.2% and a typical year strayed about 65.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.7 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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