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ICT & Media🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia 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.

Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular SubscriptionsMillion · 2015–2024

555045402015: 52.802016: 47.932017: 40.21Trough2018: 41.312019: 41.302020: 43.222021: 45.432022: 48.202023: 52.482024: 54.18Peak20152017201920212024
Source: data.worldbank.orgLast updated: April 2026

What Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions shows

Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 54.18 Million in 2024, up 3.2% on 2023. Saudi Arabia’s mobile cellular subscription landscape from 2015 to 2024 represents a spectacular and majestic narrative of strategic market transformation and high-velocity digital rebirth. The data captures a breathtaking journey, beginning with a massive 52.80 million in 2015 and navigating a deliberate, surgical consolidation to 40.21 million by 2017.

Trend

Rising to a series high

Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 52.80 Million in 2015 to 54.18 Million in 2024 (+2.6%), an average of +0.3% a year. The series high was 54.18 Million in 2024 and the low 40.21 Million in 2017.

Volatility

A 25.8% peak-to-trough swing

The gap between the series high (2024) and low (2017) is 13.97 Million. The sharpest single-year move was −16.1% in 2017.

Structure

Ranks 20 of 33 countries covered

Among the 33 countries in this dataset, Saudi Arabia ranks 20 for 2024, behind China (1,870 Million) and India (1,150 Million). It accounts for 0.6% of the global total in 2024.

Full series

Saudi Arabia 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.

Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions, 2015–2024, Million.
YearMillionChange vs prior year
2024Peak 54.18 +3.2%
2023 52.48 +8.9%
2022 48.20 +6.1%
2021 45.43 +5.1%
2020 43.22 +4.6%
2019 41.30 0%
2018 41.31 +2.7%
2017 Trough40.21 −16.1%
2016 47.93 −9.2%
2015 52.80 —

Regional context

How Saudi Arabia compares in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions by country, 2024, Million. Saudi Arabia is highlighted.

1Turkey
94.32
2Saudi Arabia
54.18
3UAE
22.41
4Israel
16.65

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 period of intense optimization served as the foundation for a phenomenal and aggressive resurgence, as subscriptions skyrocketed back to a monumental 54.18 million by 2024. This relentless expansion is a testament to a society that has completely woven mobile connectivity into the very heart of its "Vision 2030" identity. The Saudi telecommunications sector is an absolute marvel of modern engineering, boasting a hyper-advanced infrastructure that spearheaded the transition to the revolutionary frontiers of 5G technology. With penetration rates that reflect a hyper-connected society, the data reveals an elite landscape where multi-device ownership and persistent, high-octane connectivity are the non-negotiable standard. This monumental growth was fueled by an insatiable demand for sophisticated data services, immersive streaming, and a world-class digital economy that connects every facet of Saudi life. Major telecom titans have poured unfathomable billions into network hardening and spectrum innovation to ensure the Kingdom remains the undisputed vanguard of the global digital age. This dataset serves as a powerful, ironclad testament to a market that refuses to plateau, continuously reinventing itself through radical innovation and a visionary commitment to total connectivity. It is a definitive portrait of a digital superpower maintaining a relentless grip on the future of communications, ensuring that from the bustling urban centers to the remote regions, every citizen is bathed in high-speed signals. Saudi Arabia is not merely observing the digital future—it is actively engineering it, establishing a resilient and high-velocity telecom landscape for the world to admire.

Indicator
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions
Country
Saudi Arabia
Region
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
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 Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions in 2024?

Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 54.18 Million in 2024, up 3.2% on 2023.

How has Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions changed between 2015 and 2024?

Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 52.80 Million in 2015 to 54.18 Million in 2024 (+2.6%), an average of +0.3% a year. The series high was 54.18 Million in 2024 and the low 40.21 Million in 2017.

Which year had the highest and lowest Saudi Arabia Mobile Cellular Subscriptions?

The highest value was 54.18 Million in 2024 and the lowest was 40.21 Million in 2017.

Where does the Saudi Arabia 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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