Mobile cellular subscriptions in Small states
Small states: Mobile cellular subscriptions was 161.6 per 100 people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions in Small states, 1960–2025
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Measured in per 100 people.
Analysis
In 2025, mobile cellular subscriptions in Small states stood at 161.6 per 100 people. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is up 12.9% on the previous year and up 47.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions in Small states peaked at 161.6 per 100 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 per 100 people, in 1960.
That places Small states 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile cellular subscriptions in Small states, year by year
| Year | per 100 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1965 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1970 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1975 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1976 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1977 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1978 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1979 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1980 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1981 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1982 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1983 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1984 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1985 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1986 | 0.0292 per 100 people | — |
| 1987 | 0.0591 per 100 people | +102.5% |
| 1988 | 0.0827 per 100 people | +39.9% |
| 1989 | 0.1177 per 100 people | +42.2% |
| 1990 | 0.1905 per 100 people | +61.9% |
| 1991 | 0.3069 per 100 people | +61.1% |
| 1992 | 0.4382 per 100 people | +42.8% |
| 1993 | 0.6328 per 100 people | +44.4% |
| 1994 | 0.9562 per 100 people | +51.1% |
| 1995 | 1.69 per 100 people | +76.6% |
| 1996 | 2.6 per 100 people | +53.9% |
| 1997 | 3.87 per 100 people | +49.1% |
| 1998 | 5.74 per 100 people | +48.3% |
| 1999 | 9.02 per 100 people | +57.2% |
| 2000 | 14.28 per 100 people | +58.2% |
| 2001 | 20.24 per 100 people | +41.7% |
| 2002 | 25.91 per 100 people | +28.0% |
| 2003 | 30.97 per 100 people | +19.5% |
| 2004 | 39.57 per 100 people | +27.7% |
| 2005 | 46.57 per 100 people | +17.7% |
| 2006 | 55.09 per 100 people | +18.3% |
| 2007 | 66.57 per 100 people | +20.8% |
| 2008 | 76.9 per 100 people | +15.5% |
| 2009 | 82.47 per 100 people | +7.2% |
| 2010 | 86.84 per 100 people | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 92.32 per 100 people | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 97.44 per 100 people | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 100.5 per 100 people | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 107.33 per 100 people | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 109.5 per 100 people | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 115.4 per 100 people | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 113.3 per 100 people | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 111.8 per 100 people | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 111 per 100 people | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 111.5 per 100 people | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 114 per 100 people | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 117.2 per 100 people | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 131 per 100 people | +11.8% |
| 2024 | 143.1 per 100 people | +9.2% |
| 2025 | 161.6 per 100 people | +12.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 6 |
| 1980s | 0.0289 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0.1177 per 100 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.54 per 100 people | 0.1905 per 100 people | 9.02 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.86 per 100 people | 14.28 per 100 people | 82.47 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 104.54 per 100 people | 86.84 per 100 people | 115.4 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 129.73 per 100 people | 111.5 per 100 people | 161.6 per 100 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Small states
- 1 Fiji 574.15 per 100 people compare
- 2 Hong Kong 364.85 per 100 people compare
- 3 Montenegro 221.69 per 100 people compare
- 4 United Arab Emirates 203.21 per 100 people compare
More infrastructure data for Small states
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 32.00 million (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 3.00 million (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 13.5 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.1474 units per person (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 3.00 million (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.57 units per person (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 32.00 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile cellular subscriptions in Small states?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions in Small states was 161.6 per 100 people in 2025, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in Small states?
- The highest recorded value was 161.6 per 100 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in Small states?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 per 100 people in 1960.
- How does Small states rank for mobile cellular subscriptions?
- Small states ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions rising or falling in Small states?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Small states data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Mobile cellular telephone subscriptions are subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the PSTN using cellular technology. The indicator includes (and is split into) the number of postpaid subscriptions, and the number of active prepaid accounts (i.e. that have been used during the last three months). The indicator applies to all mobile cellular subscriptions that offer voice communications. It excludes subscriptions via data cards or USB modems, subscriptions to public mobile data services, private trunked mobile radio, telepoint, radio paging and telemetry services.