Rising to a series high
Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 7,132 Million in 2015 to 9,005 Million in 2024 (+26.3%), an average of +2.6% a year. The series high was 9,005 Million in 2024 and the low 7,132 Million in 2015.
What Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions shows
Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 9,005 Million in 2024, up 1.4% on 2023. The global mobile cellular subscriptions from 2015 to 2024, measured in billions, illustrate a decade of massive digital expansion and structural market shifts. Total world subscriptions surged from 7.13 billion in 2015 to cross the landmark 9-billion threshold, reaching 9.01 billion in 2024.
A 20.8% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2024) and low (2015) is 1,873 Million. The sharpest single-year move was +4.5% in 2016.
China leads among 33 countries covered
Of the 33 countries in this dataset, China, India and U.S. have the highest values in 2024 (1,870, 1,150, 391 Million respectively).
Country ranking
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions by country, 2024
Million. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Rank↕ | Country↕ | Share of top | Million↕ | vs 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 1,870 | +2.7% | |
| 2 | India | 1,150 | −0.9% | |
| 3 | U.S. | 391 | +1.3% | |
| 4 | Indonesia | 347.3 | −1.4% | |
| 5 | Russia | 269.5 | +2.5% | |
| 6 | Brazil | 216.1 | +1.3% | |
| 7 | Nigeria | 164.7 | −26.6% | |
| 8 | Mexico | 152.4 | +5.2% | |
| 9 | Philippines | 133.6 | −0.9% | |
| 10 | Thailand | 115.1 | −4.8% | |
| 11 | South Africa | 114.8 | +5.9% | |
| 12 | Egypt | 113.2 | +6.5% | |
| 13 | Germany | 109.2 | +3.6% | |
| 14 | Turkey | 94.32 | +2.3% | |
| 15 | South Korea | 89.22 | +6.4% | |
| 16 | UK | 84.10 | −0.3% | |
| 17 | Italy | 78.67 | +0.3% | |
| 18 | Argentina | 64.08 | +2.2% | |
| 19 | Spain | 62.41 | +2% | |
| 20 | Saudi Arabia | 54.18 | +3.2% | |
| 21 | Malaysia | 49.66 | −1% | |
| 22 | Canada | 37.40 | +1.1% | |
| 23 | Australia | 30.07 | +1% | |
| 24 | Netherlands | 23.43 | +3.4% | |
| 25 | Senegal | 22.92 | +2.3% | |
| 26 | UAE | 22.41 | +5.6% | |
| 27 | Israel | 16.65 | +17.3% | |
| 28 | Sweden | 14.92 | +0.8% | |
| 29 | Singapore | 9.96 | −0.7% | |
| 30 | Denmark | 7.57 | +0.4% | |
| 31 | Finland | 7.07 | −1% | |
| 32 | Norway | 6.10 | +0.8% | |
| 33 | Uruguay | 4.93 | +2.7% |
By region
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions by region
Million, 2024. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions by year
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Million.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Million | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024Peak | 9,005 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 8,877 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 8,654 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 8,476 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 8,260 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 8,214 | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 7,915 | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 7,697 | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 7,452 | +4.5% |
| 2015 Trough | 7,132 | — |
About this indicator
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions — – Mobile cellular subscriptions refer to subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using cellular technology. It includes both postpaid subscriptions and active prepaid SIM cards that have been used within a specified period (typically the last three months).
This growth reflects the transition of mobile connectivity from a basic communication tool to a foundational infrastructure for the global digital economy.
China and India remain the primary pillars of global connectivity. China demonstrated consistent leadership, expanding its subscriber base from 1.29 billion in 2015 to 1.87 billion in 2024. India saw rapid early-period growth, peaking at 1.18 billion in 2018 before stabilizing at 1.15 billion in 2024. In the West, the United States showed steady growth, reaching 0.39 billion, while Mexico exhibited a strong upward trajectory to 0.15 billion.
European and Asian markets showed varied trends. Russia increased to 0.27 billion, while Brazil experienced a market recalibration, ending at 0.22 billion after a mid-period decline. In the Middle East and Africa, Egypt and Nigeria emerged as significant hubs with 0.11 billion and 0.16 billion subscriptions respectively, despite Nigeria’s 2024 regulatory correction. South Africa also showed robust growth, rising to 0.11 billion.
A critical driver of this global trend is the “Other Countries” category, which represents the aggregate of smaller and emerging economies. This segment grew from 2.02 billion in 2015 to 3.08 billion in 2024, highlighting that some of the strongest connectivity gains are now occurring in developing regions.
- Indicator
- Mobile Cellular Subscriptions
- Region
- Global
- Unit
- Million
- Coverage
- 2015–2024, annual
- Category
- ICT & Media
- Last updated
- April 2026
- Source
- data.worldbank.org
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Frequently asked questions
What is Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions?
Definition – Mobile cellular subscriptions refer to subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using cellular technology. It includes both postpaid subscriptions and active prepaid SIM cards that have been used within a specified period (typically the last three months). Inclusions – The data includes all active mobile cellular subscriptions offering voice communication services, covering both prepaid and postpaid accounts. It encompasses subscriptions across analogue and digital cellular technologies (including 2G, 3G, and 4G systems) and is compiled from telecom operators and regulatory authorities, typically aggregated at the national level. Exclusions – The data excludes subscriptions used solely for mobile data services such as USB modems or data cards, as well as private trunked mobile radio, radio paging, telepoint systems, and telemetry services. It also does not capture inactive SIM cards or non-voice-based mobile connectivity services.
What was Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions in 2024?
Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 9,005 Million in 2024, up 1.4% on 2023.
How has Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions changed between 2015 and 2024?
Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 7,132 Million in 2015 to 9,005 Million in 2024 (+26.3%), an average of +2.6% a year. The series high was 9,005 Million in 2024 and the low 7,132 Million in 2015.
Which year had the highest and lowest Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions?
The highest value was 9,005 Million in 2024 and the lowest was 7,132 Million in 2015.
Where does the Global Mobile Cellular Subscriptions data come from?
The series is sourced from data.worldbank.org (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.CEL.SETS). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Million.
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