Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Mobile cellular subscriptions was 84.10 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom, 1960–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom is 84.10 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions in United Kingdom peaked at 84.33 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1960.
That places United Kingdom 24th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 50,000 | — |
| 1986 | 130,000 | +160.0% |
| 1987 | 290,000 | +123.1% |
| 1988 | 560,000 | +93.1% |
| 1989 | 975,000 | +74.1% |
| 1990 | 1.11 million | +14.3% |
| 1991 | 1.26 million | +13.1% |
| 1992 | 1.51 million | +19.6% |
| 1993 | 2.27 million | +50.5% |
| 1994 | 3.94 million | +73.7% |
| 1995 | 5.74 million | +45.6% |
| 1996 | 7.25 million | +26.4% |
| 1997 | 8.84 million | +22.0% |
| 1998 | 14.88 million | +68.3% |
| 1999 | 27.18 million | +82.7% |
| 2000 | 43.45 million | +59.8% |
| 2001 | 46.28 million | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 49.23 million | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 54.26 million | +10.2% |
| 2004 | 59.69 million | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 65.47 million | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 70.08 million | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 73.84 million | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 74.94 million | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 76.48 million | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 76.73 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 77.16 million | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 78.33 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 78.67 million | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 78.46 million | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 79.25 million | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 78.93 million | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 79.10 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 78.89 million | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 80.70 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 79.01 million | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 79.77 million | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 81.70 million | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 84.33 million | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 84.10 million | -0.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 84.10 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 17.9× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 84.10 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.64 million, 11.0× 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 | +160.0% | 50,000 | 130,000 |
| 1987 | +123.1% | 130,000 | 290,000 |
| 1988 | +93.1% | 290,000 | 560,000 |
| 1999 | +82.7% | 14.88 million | 27.18 million |
| 1989 | +74.1% | 560,000 | 975,000 |
| 1994 | +73.7% | 2.27 million | 3.94 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 200,500 | 0 | 975,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.40 million | 1.11 million | 27.18 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.37 million | 43.45 million | 76.48 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.62 million | 76.73 million | 80.70 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.78 million | 79.01 million | 84.33 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More infrastructure data for United Kingdom
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 121.64 per 100 people (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 84.10 million 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 84.33 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1960.
- How does United Kingdom rank for mobile cellular subscriptions?
- United Kingdom ranks 24th 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 7.2%. 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. 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.