Mobile cellular subscriptions in Japan
Japan: Mobile cellular subscriptions was 221.92 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions in Japan, 1960–2023
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
In 2023, mobile cellular subscriptions in Japan stood at 221.92 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.3% on the previous year and up 50.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions in Japan peaked at 221.92 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1960.
That places Japan 6th out of 214 countries with data for 2023, 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 Japan, year by year
| 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 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More infrastructure data for Japan
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 178.43 per 100 people (2023)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 59.33 million (2023)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 47.7 per 100 people (2023)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.4765 units per person (2023)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2023)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 59.33 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.78 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 221.92 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile cellular subscriptions in Japan?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions in Japan was 221.92 million in 2023, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 221.92 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1960.
- How does Japan rank for mobile cellular subscriptions?
- Japan ranks 6th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions 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 World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Mobile cellular subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 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.