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Russia 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.

Russia Mobile Cellular SubscriptionsMillion · 2015–2024

2802602402202015: 227.3Trough2016: 229.12017: 227.32018: 229.42019: 239.82020: 238.72021: 246.62022: 245.32023: 2632024: 269.5Peak20152017201920212024
Source: data.worldbank.orgLast updated: April 2026

What Russia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions shows

Russia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 269.5 Million in 2024, up 2.5% on 2023. Russia’s mobile cellular subscriptions from 2015 to 2024 is an absolutely spectacular saga of explosive growth and a radical digital revolution spanning a vast and diverse continental landscape. Subscription volumes underwent a staggering transformation, leaping from an already massive 227.29 million in 2015 to a phenomenal, earth-shattering 269.52 million by 2024.

Trend

Rising to a series high

Russia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 227.3 Million in 2015 to 269.5 Million in 2024 (+18.6%), an average of +1.9% a year. The series high was 269.5 Million in 2024 and the low 227.3 Million in 2015.

Volatility

A 15.7% peak-to-trough swing

The gap between the series high (2024) and low (2015) is 42.23 Million. The sharpest single-year move was +7.2% in 2023.

Structure

Ranks 5 of 33 countries covered

Among the 33 countries in this dataset, Russia ranks 5 for 2024, behind China (1,870 Million) and India (1,150 Million). It accounts for 3% of the global total in 2024.

Full series

Russia 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.

Russia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions, 2015–2024, Million.
YearMillionChange vs prior year
2024Peak 269.5 +2.5%
2023 263 +7.2%
2022 245.3 −0.5%
2021 246.6 +3.3%
2020 238.7 −0.4%
2019 239.8 +4.5%
2018 229.4 +0.9%
2017 227.3 −0.8%
2016 229.1 +0.8%
2015 Trough227.3 —

Regional context

How Russia compares in Europe & Central Asia

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions by country, 2024, Million. Russia is highlighted.

1Russia
269.5
2Germany
109.2
3UK
84.10
4Italy
78.67
5Spain
62.41
6Netherlands
23.43
7Sweden
14.92
8Denmark
7.57

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 meteoric rise represents a monumental triumph of infrastructure development and a visionary shift toward total digital inclusion across eleven time zones. Russia has emerged as a formidable laboratory for telecom expansion, where fierce competition and aggressive network rollouts have brought millions of citizens into the modern digital fold. The surge is driven by a dynamic population that has embraced a mobile-first lifestyle, fueling an unprecedented, voracious demand for high-octane data services and mobile commerce. From the dense urban megacenters to the most remote heartlands, the expansion of 4G and the ambitious rollout of high-speed networks are creating a unified digital frontier. This connectivity has ignited a wildfire of growth in e-government services, digital education, and regional fintech, making Russia a dominant regional powerhouse in the digital economy. The nation’s providers have engaged in a heroic effort to modernize infrastructure on an unfathomable scale, ensuring that high-capacity networks remain resilient across immense distances. This dataset captures a nation in the midst of a historic digital awakening, proving that through massive investment and bold technological adoption, a market can achieve legendary status in record time. Russia is no longer just observing the digital future—it is actively engineering a resilient and high-velocity telecom landscape that serves as a massive blueprint for connectivity.

Indicator
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions
Country
Russia
Region
Europe & Central Asia
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 Russia 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 Russia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions in 2024?

Russia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 269.5 Million in 2024, up 2.5% on 2023.

How has Russia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions changed between 2015 and 2024?

Russia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 227.3 Million in 2015 to 269.5 Million in 2024 (+18.6%), an average of +1.9% a year. The series high was 269.5 Million in 2024 and the low 227.3 Million in 2015.

Which year had the highest and lowest Russia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions?

The highest value was 269.5 Million in 2024 and the lowest was 227.3 Million in 2015.

Where does the Russia 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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