How Much Mobile Data Does an Average Pakistani Use Every Month?

Pakistan’s growing dependence on mobile connectivity has continued to reshape daily life, with new figures showing that the average Pakistani now consumes 8.4 gigabytes (GB) of mobile data per month, according to the State of Apps 2024 report^[1] by Data Darbar, citing Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) data.

The report highlights a 13.5% increase in data consumption from the previous year, when average usage stood at 7.4 GB per month. In 2020, mobile users were consuming just 4.9 GB monthly, meaning that data usage has surged by 71% over the past four years.

This growth comes despite a period of economic uncertainty, signaling that mobile connectivity has become an essential utility for Pakistanis. The report notes that people continue to prioritize internet access even amid rising inflation and declining purchasing power.

Mobile data consumption across the country reached 13,002 petabytes in FY24, representing a 20% year-over-year increase, while fixed broadband usage rose 29% to 12,120 petabytes. The expansion has been driven by higher smartphone adoption, improved 4G coverage, and greater use of video streaming, social media, and remote work applications.

Pakistan’s broadband penetration climbed to 57% in FY24, supported by a strong shift from 2G and 3G networks to faster connections. However, the report also notes persistent infrastructure challenges, including the limited reach of fiber connectivity, with only 9% of mobile towers linked to fiber networks.

The effective cost of mobile data rose slightly in FY24, with users now paying an average of Rs. 26.6 per GB, up 4.3% from the previous year. This increase follows several years of declining data prices, as telecom operators adjusted pricing to improve profitability.

The average monthly mobile revenue per user (ARPU) also climbed to Rs. 276.

Despite these gains, experts warn that affordability and infrastructure constraints still pose barriers to further growth. Pakistan’s digital ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, but sustained investment will be essential to ensure faster speeds, broader access, and stable network quality.