Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Mobile cellular subscriptions was 121.64 per 100 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom, 1960–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Measured in per 100 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom is 121.64 per 100 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom peaked at 122.78 per 100 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 per 100 people, in 1960.
United Kingdom ranks 83rd of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom, 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 | 0.0883 per 100 people | — |
| 1986 | 0.2292 per 100 people | +159.6% |
| 1987 | 0.5103 per 100 people | +122.7% |
| 1988 | 0.9833 per 100 people | +92.7% |
| 1989 | 1.71 per 100 people | +73.7% |
| 1990 | 1.95 per 100 people | +14.0% |
| 1991 | 2.2 per 100 people | +12.8% |
| 1992 | 2.62 per 100 people | +19.3% |
| 1993 | 3.93 per 100 people | +50.1% |
| 1994 | 6.82 per 100 people | +73.3% |
| 1995 | 9.9 per 100 people | +45.2% |
| 1996 | 12.48 per 100 people | +26.0% |
| 1997 | 15.18 per 100 people | +21.6% |
| 1998 | 25.46 per 100 people | +67.7% |
| 1999 | 46.36 per 100 people | +82.1% |
| 2000 | 73.58 per 100 people | +58.7% |
| 2001 | 78.06 per 100 people | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 82.68 per 100 people | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 90.7 per 100 people | +9.7% |
| 2004 | 99.2 per 100 people | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 108.05 per 100 people | +8.9% |
| 2006 | 114.79 per 100 people | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 119.99 per 100 people | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 120.82 per 100 people | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 122.36 per 100 people | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 121.78 per 100 people | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 121.5 per 100 people | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 122.47 per 100 people | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 122.19 per 100 people | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 120.96 per 100 people | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 121.21 per 100 people | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 119.79 per 100 people | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 119.21 per 100 people | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 118.18 per 100 people | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 120.25 per 100 people | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 117.31 per 100 people | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 117.89 per 100 people | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 119.83 per 100 people | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 122.78 per 100 people | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 121.64 per 100 people | -0.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 121.64 per 100 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 125.74 per 100 people, 97% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 121.64 per 100 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 122.78 per 100 people, 99% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +159.6% | 0.0883 per 100 people | 0.2292 per 100 people |
| 1987 | +122.7% | 0.2292 per 100 people | 0.5103 per 100 people |
| 1988 | +92.7% | 0.5103 per 100 people | 0.9833 per 100 people |
| 1999 | +82.1% | 25.46 per 100 people | 46.36 per 100 people |
| 1989 | +73.7% | 0.9833 per 100 people | 1.71 per 100 people |
| 1994 | +73.3% | 3.93 per 100 people | 6.82 per 100 people |
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 | 0.3519 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 1.71 per 100 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.69 per 100 people | 1.95 per 100 people | 46.36 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 101.02 per 100 people | 73.58 per 100 people | 122.36 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 120.75 per 100 people | 118.18 per 100 people | 122.47 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 119.89 per 100 people | 117.31 per 100 people | 122.78 per 100 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More infrastructure data for United Kingdom
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 84.10 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 23.77 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 34.38 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.3431 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -11.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 23.77 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.21 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 84.10 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom was 121.64 per 100 people in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 122.78 per 100 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 per 100 people in 1960.
- How does United Kingdom rank for mobile cellular subscriptions?
- United Kingdom ranks 83rd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 53 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.