Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita in Japan

Japan: Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita was 1.78 units per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
1.78 units per person
Change on year
up 5.8%
World rank
11th
of 213 countries
All-time high
1.78 units per person
in 2023
All-time low
0 units per person
in 1960
Years of data
52
1960–2023

Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita in Japan, 1960–2023

00.511.52196019912023

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.

Analysis

The most recent figure for mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita in Japan is 1.78 units per person, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.

The figure is up 5.8% on the previous year and up 53.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita in Japan peaked at 1.78 units per person in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 units per person, in 1960.

Japan ranks 11th 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, per capita in Japan, year by year

Annual values for Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita in Japan, 1960 to 2023.
Year units per person Change
1960 0 units per person —
1965 0 units per person —
1970 0 units per person —
1975 0 units per person —
1976 0 units per person —
1977 0 units per person —
1978 0 units per person —
1979 0 units per person —
1980 0 units per person —
1981 0.0001 units per person —
1982 0.0002 units per person +48.2%
1983 0.0002 units per person +36.4%
1984 0.0003 units per person +47.6%
1985 0.0005 units per person +52.0%
1986 0.0008 units per person +53.1%
1987 0.0012 units per person +57.7%
1988 0.002 units per person +60.4%
1989 0.004 units per person +100.8%
1990 0.007 units per person +76.7%
1991 0.0111 units per person +58.1%
1992 0.0138 units per person +23.8%
1993 0.0171 units per person +24.1%
1994 0.0346 units per person +102.7%
1995 0.0933 units per person +169.8%
1996 0.214 units per person +129.2%
1997 0.3035 units per person +41.8%
1998 0.3743 units per person +23.3%
1999 0.4489 units per person +19.9%
2000 0.5265 units per person +17.3%
2001 0.5884 units per person +11.8%
2002 0.6365 units per person +8.2%
2003 0.6785 units per person +6.6%
2004 0.716 units per person +5.5%
2005 0.7551 units per person +5.5%
2006 0.7808 units per person +3.4%
2007 0.8386 units per person +7.4%
2008 0.862 units per person +2.8%
2009 0.9082 units per person +5.4%
2010 0.9627 units per person +6.0%
2011 1.04 units per person +7.9%
2012 1.11 units per person +6.5%
2013 1.16 units per person +4.9%
2014 1.24 units per person +6.9%
2015 1.26 units per person +1.8%
2016 1.31 units per person +4.0%
2017 1.36 units per person +3.6%
2018 1.42 units per person +4.2%
2019 1.47 units per person +3.8%
2020 1.54 units per person +4.9%
2021 1.6 units per person +3.3%
2022 1.68 units per person +5.6%
2023 1.78 units per person +5.8%

Japan compared with similar countries

  • Japan's 1.78 units per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.25 units per person, 1.4× the median. (82 countries reporting)
  • Japan's 1.78 units per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.15 units per person, 1.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 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 +169.8% 0.0346 units per person 0.0933 units per person
1996 +129.2% 0.0933 units per person 0.214 units per person
1994 +102.7% 0.0171 units per person 0.0346 units per person
1989 +100.8% 0.002 units per person 0.004 units per person
1990 +76.7% 0.004 units per person 0.007 units per person
1988 +60.4% 0.0012 units per person 0.002 units per person

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 0 units per person 0 units per person 0 units per person 2
1970s 0 units per person 0 units per person 0 units per person 6
1980s 0.0009 units per person 0 units per person 0.004 units per person 10
1990s 0.1518 units per person 0.007 units per person 0.4489 units per person 10
2000s 0.7291 units per person 0.5265 units per person 0.9082 units per person 10
2010s 1.23 units per person 0.9627 units per person 1.47 units per person 10
2020s 1.65 units per person 1.54 units per person 1.78 units per person 4

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 8 Russia 1.88 units per person compare
  2. 9 Cote d'Ivoire 1.84 units per person compare
  3. 10 South Africa 1.79 units per person compare
  4. 12 El Salvador 1.77 units per person compare
  5. 13 Mauritius 1.76 units per person compare
  6. 14 Colombia 1.74 units per person 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, per capita in Japan?
Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita in Japan was 1.78 units per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 1.78 units per person in 2023.
What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 0 units per person in 1960.
How does Japan rank for mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita?
Japan ranks 11th out of 213 countries with data for 2023.
Is mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 53.6%. 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, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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

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How this figure is calculated

Mobile cellular subscriptions divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.

Mobile cellular subscriptions ÷ Population, total

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, per capita
Unit
units per person
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
260 places, 13,039 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Mobile cellular subscriptions divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.