Mobile Subscriptions

Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people.

Latest available data

This page uses the latest available World Bank observation (2024). Country-level datasets often lag the current calendar year because they depend on official reporting and validation.

World Bank 2024

What is the global average Mobile Subscriptions?

The global average Mobile Subscriptions is 123.94 per 100 people as of 2024. Fiji has the highest at 574.15 per 100 people, while Papua New Guinea has the lowest at 38.77 per 100 people. Data covers 151 countries. Source: World Bank.

World Average
123.94 per 100 people
Highest
Fiji
574.15 per 100 people
Lowest
Papua New Guinea
38.77 per 100 people
Countries with Data
151
2024

Top Countries

#1 Fiji 574.15 per 100 people
#2 Hong Kong 364.85 per 100 people
#3 Montenegro 221.69 per 100 people
#4 United Arab Emirates 203.21 per 100 people
#5 Macau 201.14 per 100 people

Regional Averages

Oceania
181.82 per 100 people
5 country
Asia
134.11 per 100 people
40 country
Europe
129.41 per 100 people
40 country
Americas
114.15 per 100 people
27 country
Africa
107.25 per 100 people
39 country

Country Rankings

View full rankings
Mobile Subscriptions — Country Rankings (2024)
# Country Value
1 Fiji 574.15 per 100 people
2 Hong Kong 364.85 per 100 people
3 Montenegro 221.69 per 100 people
4 United Arab Emirates 203.21 per 100 people
5 Macau 201.14 per 100 people
6 Russia 186.1 per 100 people
7 Ivory Coast 183.88 per 100 people
8 South Africa 179.34 per 100 people
9 Israel 177.39 per 100 people
10 El Salvador 176.52 per 100 people
11 Colombia 174.09 per 100 people
12 Iran 174.07 per 100 people
13 Mauritius 172.68 per 100 people
14 South Korea 172.52 per 100 people
15 Singapore 170.78 per 100 people
16 Botswana 164 per 100 people
17 Georgia 161.2 per 100 people
18 Thailand 160.64 per 100 people
19 Saudi Arabia 159.54 per 100 people
20 Bahrain 159.54 per 100 people
21 Cyprus 156.22 per 100 people
22 Andorra 155.69 per 100 people
23 Qatar 153.61 per 100 people
24 Morocco 153.06 per 100 people
25 Estonia 151.13 per 100 people
26 Maldives 148.14 per 100 people
27 Guinea-Bissau 147.2 per 100 people
28 Uruguay 145.5 per 100 people
29 Suriname 142.12 per 100 people
30 Malta 142.07 per 100 people
31 Sweden 140.69 per 100 people
32 Mongolia 140.67 per 100 people
33 Argentina 140.23 per 100 people
34 Slovakia 139.97 per 100 people
35 Eswatini 139.83 per 100 people
36 Malaysia 139.66 per 100 people
37 Lithuania 138.73 per 100 people
38 Poland 138.02 per 100 people
39 Costa Rica 136.02 per 100 people
40 Armenia 134.89 per 100 people
41 Chile 132.66 per 100 people
42 Italy 132.58 per 100 people
43 Sri Lanka 132.55 per 100 people
44 China 131.75 per 100 people
45 Belarus 131.12 per 100 people
46 Slovenia 130.86 per 100 people
47 Spain 130.26 per 100 people
48 New Zealand 130.09 per 100 people
49 Switzerland 129.47 per 100 people
50 Germany 129.15 per 100 people
51 Liechtenstein 128.9 per 100 people
52 Netherlands 128.54 per 100 people
53 Vietnam 127.61 per 100 people
54 Kazakhstan 127.09 per 100 people
55 Denmark 126.69 per 100 people
56 Czechia 126.6 per 100 people
57 Tanzania 126.56 per 100 people
58 Kenya 126.48 per 100 people
59 Puerto Rico 126.43 per 100 people
60 Gambia 126.24 per 100 people
61 Benin 125.94 per 100 people
62 Finland 125.86 per 100 people
63 Seychelles 125.62 per 100 people
64 Gabon 125.34 per 100 people
65 Peru 124.62 per 100 people
66 Austria 124.46 per 100 people
67 Portugal 124.13 per 100 people
68 Senegal 123.89 per 100 people
69 Serbia 123.82 per 100 people
70 Indonesia 122.51 per 100 people
71 Croatia 121.73 per 100 people
72 United Kingdom 121.64 per 100 people
73 Latvia 121.26 per 100 people
74 Bosnia and Herzegovina 121.23 per 100 people
75 Iceland 120.93 per 100 people
76 Oman 120.61 per 100 people
77 Moldova 120.08 per 100 people
78 Romania 119.8 per 100 people
79 Trinidad and Tobago 118.79 per 100 people
80 Brunei 118.13 per 100 people
81 Bulgaria 118.07 per 100 people
82 Jamaica 117.69 per 100 people
83 Tunisia 117.61 per 100 people
84 Burkina Faso 116.59 per 100 people
85 Mexico 116.49 per 100 people
86 Timor-Leste 116.38 per 100 people
87 Cambodia 116.09 per 100 people
88 Algeria 115.46 per 100 people
89 Philippines 115.3 per 100 people
90 Myanmar 114.33 per 100 people
91 Ghana 113.65 per 100 people
92 Greece 113.6 per 100 people
93 United States 113.19 per 100 people
94 Ireland 112.64 per 100 people
95 Australia 112.58 per 100 people
96 Guatemala 112.52 per 100 people
97 Cape Verde 111.84 per 100 people
98 Uzbekistan 110.49 per 100 people
99 Azerbaijan 109.54 per 100 people
100 Norway 109.35 per 100 people
101 Zambia 108.7 per 100 people
102 North Macedonia 108.39 per 100 people
103 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 108.35 per 100 people
104 Cameroon 108.21 per 100 people
105 Bangladesh 108.08 per 100 people
106 Turkey 107.83 per 100 people
107 Kyrgyzstan 107.49 per 100 people
108 Monaco 107.4 per 100 people
109 Nicaragua 105.96 per 100 people
110 Hungary 104.58 per 100 people
111 Belgium 103.9 per 100 people
112 Brazil 101.93 per 100 people
113 Ecuador 101.6 per 100 people
114 Iraq 100.08 per 100 people
115 Nepal 99.85 per 100 people
116 Bhutan 99.76 per 100 people
117 Bolivia 98.03 per 100 people
118 Egypt 97.13 per 100 people
119 Bahamas 96.68 per 100 people
120 Bermuda 96.68 per 100 people
121 Republic of the Congo 95.53 per 100 people
122 Zimbabwe 94.25 per 100 people
123 Canada 94.11 per 100 people
124 Dominican Republic 93.71 per 100 people
125 Rwanda 93.2 per 100 people
126 British Virgin Islands 93.13 per 100 people
127 Mauritania 92.07 per 100 people
128 Albania 89.13 per 100 people
129 Namibia 85.16 per 100 people
130 Uganda 83.17 per 100 people
131 Togo 80.8 per 100 people
132 India 79.35 per 100 people
133 Pakistan 76.85 per 100 people
134 Cuba 72.93 per 100 people
135 Chad 72.93 per 100 people
136 Syria 71.22 per 100 people
137 Venezuela 71.01 per 100 people
138 Honduras 70.94 per 100 people
139 Nigeria 70.76 per 100 people
140 Lesotho 70.33 per 100 people
141 Angola 69.7 per 100 people
142 Jordan 69.64 per 100 people
143 Malawi 69.26 per 100 people
144 Ethiopia 65.08 per 100 people
145 São Tomé and Príncipe 62.44 per 100 people
146 Niger 60.59 per 100 people
147 Afghanistan 60.1 per 100 people
148 DR Congo 58.53 per 100 people
149 Kiribati 53.52 per 100 people
150 Mozambique 49.5 per 100 people
151 Papua New Guinea 38.77 per 100 people

Definition

Mobile Subscriptions per 100 people measures the number of active SIM cards or accounts registered to public mobile telephone services within a specific population. This infrastructure indicator includes both prepaid accounts and monthly postpaid subscriptions, reflecting the level of cellular connectivity and mobile technology penetration across various countries and territories.

How it is calculated

Data is collected by the International Telecommunication Union from national telecommunications ministries and regulatory authorities. The figure is calculated by dividing the total number of active mobile cellular subscriptions by the total population and multiplying by 100. It includes subscriptions with voice communications but typically excludes machine-to-machine connections.

Interpretation

High values, often exceeding 100, indicate that many individuals own multiple devices or SIM cards, common in highly competitive markets. Low values suggest limited infrastructure, high costs, or significant barriers to digital access. A figure above 100 is a sign of a mature mobile market with high accessibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mobile Subscriptions per 100 people measures the density of mobile cellular service usage within a specific country. It counts active SIM cards and accounts providing access to public telephone networks. Because one person may own multiple SIM cards for work or travel, the value frequently exceeds 100 in many developed and developing nations.

According to the latest available data covering 213 countries and territories, Fiji has the highest rate with approximately 574 subscriptions per 100 people. This exceptionally high figure suggests a massive prevalence of multiple SIM card ownership or extensive usage by temporary residents and tourists relative to the total permanent population.

Based on the latest reports, American Samoa has the lowest recorded rate at approximately 4 subscriptions per 100 people. Low values such as this typically indicate significant infrastructure gaps, limited market competition, or unique geographic and economic challenges that hinder the widespread adoption of mobile cellular technology among the local population.

The indicator is calculated by taking the total number of active mobile cellular subscriptions and dividing it by the total population. This result is then multiplied by 100 to provide a standardized rate. The data includes both prepaid and postpaid accounts but generally excludes machine-to-machine subscriptions that do not involve human interaction.

About this data
Source
World Bank IT.CEL.SETS.P2
Definition
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people.
Coverage
Data for 151 countries (2024)
Limitations
Data may lag 1-2 years for some countries. Coverage varies by indicator.