Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan

Japan: Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled was 221.92 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
221.92 million
Change on year
up 5.3%
World rank
6th
of 213 countries
All-time high
221.92 million
in 2023
All-time low
0
in 1960
Years of data
52
1960–2023

Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan, 1960–2023

050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M196019912023

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2023, mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan stood at 221.92 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 50.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan peaked at 221.92 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1960.

Japan ranks 6th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan, year by year

Annual values for Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan, 1960 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1960 0 —
1965 0 —
1970 0 —
1975 0 —
1976 0 —
1977 0 —
1978 0 —
1979 0 —
1980 0 —
1981 13,275 —
1982 19,804 +49.2%
1983 27,198 +37.3%
1984 40,392 +48.5%
1985 61,800 +53.0%
1986 95,131 +53.9%
1987 150,773 +58.5%
1988 242,888 +61.1%
1989 489,558 +101.6%
1990 868,078 +77.3%
1991 1.38 million +58.8%
1992 1.71 million +24.3%
1993 2.13 million +24.5%
1994 4.33 million +103.2%
1995 11.71 million +170.4%
1996 26.91 million +129.7%
1997 38.25 million +42.2%
1998 47.31 million +23.7%
1999 56.85 million +20.2%
2000 66.78 million +17.5%
2001 74.82 million +12.0%
2002 81.12 million +8.4%
2003 86.66 million +6.8%
2004 91.47 million +5.6%
2005 96.48 million +5.5%
2006 99.83 million +3.5%
2007 107.34 million +7.5%
2008 110.39 million +2.8%
2009 116.30 million +5.3%
2010 123.29 million +6.0%
2011 132.76 million +7.7%
2012 141.13 million +6.3%
2013 147.89 million +4.8%
2014 157.86 million +6.7%
2015 160.56 million +1.7%
2016 166.85 million +3.9%
2017 172.79 million +3.6%
2018 179.87 million +4.1%
2019 186.51 million +3.7%
2020 195.06 million +4.6%
2021 200.48 million +2.8%
2022 210.75 million +5.1%
2023 221.92 million +5.3%

Japan compared with similar countries

  • Japan's 221.92 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 47.2× the median. (82 countries reporting)
  • Japan's 221.92 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.10 million, 54.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1995 +170.4% 4.33 million 11.71 million
1996 +129.7% 11.71 million 26.91 million
1994 +103.2% 2.13 million 4.33 million
1989 +101.6% 242,888 489,558
1990 +77.3% 489,558 868,078
1988 +61.1% 150,773 242,888

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 0 0 0 2
1970s 0 0 0 6
1980s 114,082 0 489,558 10
1990s 19.14 million 868,078 56.85 million 10
2000s 93.12 million 66.78 million 116.30 million 10
2010s 156.95 million 123.29 million 186.51 million 10
2020s 207.05 million 195.06 million 221.92 million 4

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 3 United States 390.99 million compare
  2. 4 Indonesia 347.31 million compare
  3. 5 Russia 269.52 million compare
  4. 7 Brazil 216.08 million compare
  5. 8 Pakistan 193.11 million compare
  6. 9 Bangladesh 187.58 million compare

See the full ranking of 260 places →

More infrastructure data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan?
Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan was 221.92 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 221.92 million in 2023.
What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1960.
How does Japan rank for mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled?
Japan ranks 6th out of 213 countries with data for 2023.
Is mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 50.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 03 October 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/mobile-cellular-subscriptions-gaps-filled/japan/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page; please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/mobile-cellular-subscriptions-gaps-filled/japan/">Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled in Japan</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Mobile cellular subscriptions with 80 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
260 places, 13,119 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Mobile cellular subscriptions with 80 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.