List of countries by number of mobile numbers in use explained

This list ranks the countries of the world by the number of mobile phone numbers in use.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This list does NOT provide the "number of mobile phones in use." Nobody knows that data. This is a count of phone numbers by country. In fact, often each SIM card has a separate phone number, so those with a dozen SIM cards (for each city they frequent) will have a dozen phone numbers.

In some countries, it's true that one person might have two mobile phones. Also, some mobile phone numbers may be used by machines as a modem (examples: intrusion detection systems, home automation, leak detection), or a local micro-cell.

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Rankings! Country or regions! data-sort-type="number"

of phone numbers	data-sort-type="number"	Population	data-sort-type="number"	Phone #'s/100 citizens	Date of evaluation
World		7,950,000,000+	7,621,018,958	104.32	2019/12[1] [2]
1	China	1,610,360,000	1,420,050,000	113.38	2020/10[3] [4]
2	India	1,515,971,713	1,375,245,994	110.18	2020/10[5]
3	Indonesia	385,573,398	237,556,363	162.28	2016/07
4	United States	380,577,528	327,874,628	116.27	2020/10[6] [7]
5	Brazil	284,200,000	201,032,714	141.3	2015/05[8] [9]
6	Russia	256,116,000	142,905,200	155.5	2013/07[10]
7	Pakistan	194,580,369	219,922,083	88.34	2022/06[11] [12]	PTA". Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Update June 2022. https://www.pta.gov.pk/en/telecom-indicators
8	Nigeria	190,475,494	190,551,754	99.5	2020/04[13]
9	Bangladesh	180,780,000	162,951,560	111.11	2022/03[14]
10	Japan	146,649,600	127,300,000	115.2	2013
11	Germany	107,000,000	81,882,342	130.1	2013[15]
12	Philippines	106,987,098	94,013,200	113.8	2013/10[16]
13	Mexico	101,339,000	112,322,757	90.2	2013/07[17]
14	Iran	96,165,000	86,330,703	130	2013/02[18]
15	Egypt	95,340,000	99,958,000	95.38	2019/12[19]
16	Turkey	92,200,000	85,372,377	108,2	2024[20] [21]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Global Digital Overview. DataReportal – Global Digital Insights. en-GB. 2020-03-23.
2. Web site: Census Bureau Projects U.S. and World Populations on New Year's Day. Bureau. US Census. The United States Census Bureau. EN-US. 2020-03-23.
3. Web site: World Bank Population Data . World Bank . April 8, 2016.
4. Web site: China: mobile users 2019. Statista. en. 2020-03-23.
5. Web site: Highlights of Telecom Subscription Data as on 31st January, 2019. April 5, 2019. March 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190328164926/https://main.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/PR_No.22of2019_0.pdf. dead.
6. Web site: U.S. and World Population Clocks  — POPClocks . Census.gov .
7. Web site: U.S. Wireless Quick Facts . Ctia.org . August 28, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120820013725/http://www.ctia.org/consumer_info/index.cfm/AID/10323 . August 20, 2012 . mdy-all .
8. Web site: CIA - The World Factbook . January 14, 2014 . November 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181124010553/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2151rank.html . dead .
9. Web site: Estatísticas de Celulares no Brasil . June 25, 2015 . July 3, 2015 .
10. Web site: Сотовые подключения Москвы: локальный плюс – AC&M Consulting . MSK IT . September 24, 2013 .
11. Web site: Amin. Tahir. 2021-07-01. Number of cellular subscribers declines. 2021-07-05. Brecorder. en.
12. "Telecom Indicators
13. Web site: Industry Statistics-> Subscriber Data. Nigerian Telecommunication Commission . Apr 2020. July 24, 2020.
14. Web site: Mobile Subscriber- Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. 2022-03-22. www.btrc.gov.bd/. en.
15. Web site: Research and Markets Adds Report: Germany — Telecoms, IP Networks and Digital Media . TMCnews . June 12, 2013 . November 5, 2013.
16. Web site: Philippines - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts . BuddeComm . October 12, 2013 . January 24, 2013.
17. Web site: México rebasa los 100 millones de celulares . Mediatelecom . July 3, 2013 . July 3, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141220073838/http://mediatelecom.com.mx/index.php/telecomunicaciones/telefonia-movil/item/45904-mexico-rebasa-los-100-millones-de-celulares . December 20, 2014 . dead . mdy-all .
18. Web site: Iran, world, political, sport, economic news and headlines . https://archive.today/20130128145101/http://www.mehrnews.com/fa/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=1537947 . dead . January 28, 2013 . MehrNews.com . August 22, 2013 .
19. Web site: ICT Indicators in Brief January 2020 Monthly Issue . www.mcit.gov.eg . 27 March 2020 . October 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201029134504/http://mcit.gov.eg/Upcont/Documents/Publications_2432020000_ICT_Indicators_in_Brief%20_January_2020_English.pdf . dead .
20. Web site: The Results of Address Based Population Registration System, 2015. Turkish Statistical Institute. January 28, 2016. January 28, 2016.
21. Web site: Türkiye'de telefon numarası taşıma sayısı ülke nüfusunun 2 katını geçti. Nov 8, 2024.

    See also

    • List of countries by smartphone penetration
    • List of countries by number of telephone lines in use
    • List of mobile network operators
    • List of countries by number of Internet users

    References

    • Web site: Ministerio para el Poder Popular para la Comunicacion y la Informacion de Venezuela. January 14, 2014.

    External links

    • World Map and Chart of Number of Mobile cellular subscriptions per country by Lebanese-economy-forum, World Bank data
    • https://www.djrohitgourr.co/2020/07/best-smartphone-under-20000-Rs.html