Mobile cellular subscriptions in United States
United States: Mobile cellular subscriptions was 390.99 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions in United States, 1960–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
In 2024, mobile cellular subscriptions in United States stood at 390.99 million. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 21.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions in United States peaked at 390.99 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1960.
United States ranks 3rd of 214 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 in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 91,600 | — |
| 1985 | 340,213 | +271.4% |
| 1986 | 681,825 | +100.4% |
| 1987 | 1.23 million | +80.5% |
| 1988 | 2.07 million | +68.1% |
| 1989 | 3.51 million | +69.6% |
| 1990 | 5.28 million | +50.6% |
| 1991 | 7.56 million | +43.0% |
| 1992 | 11.03 million | +46.0% |
| 1993 | 16.01 million | +45.1% |
| 1994 | 24.13 million | +50.8% |
| 1995 | 33.79 million | +40.0% |
| 1996 | 44.04 million | +30.4% |
| 1997 | 55.31 million | +25.6% |
| 1998 | 69.21 million | +25.1% |
| 1999 | 86.05 million | +24.3% |
| 2000 | 109.48 million | +27.2% |
| 2001 | 128.50 million | +17.4% |
| 2002 | 141.80 million | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 160.64 million | +13.3% |
| 2004 | 184.82 million | +15.1% |
| 2005 | 203.70 million | +10.2% |
| 2006 | 229.60 million | +12.7% |
| 2007 | 249.30 million | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 261.30 million | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 274.28 million | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 285.12 million | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 297.40 million | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 304.84 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 310.70 million | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 322.60 million | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 332.10 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 338.24 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 340.11 million | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 348.24 million | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 355.76 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 352.52 million | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 361.68 million | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 371.54 million | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 386.11 million | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 390.99 million | +1.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 390.99 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 83.2× the median. (82 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile cellular subscriptions in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +271.4% | 91,600 | 340,213 |
| 1986 | +100.4% | 340,213 | 681,825 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 1.13 million | 0 | 3.51 million | 7 |
| 1990s | 35.24 million | 5.28 million | 86.05 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 194.34 million | 109.48 million | 274.28 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 323.51 million | 285.12 million | 355.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 372.57 million | 352.52 million | 390.99 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More infrastructure data for United States
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 113.19 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 81.55 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 23.61 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.2398 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -3.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 81.55 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.15 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 390.99 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile cellular subscriptions in United States?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions in United States was 390.99 million in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 390.99 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1960.
- How does United States rank for mobile cellular subscriptions?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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 — 50 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.