China vs United States: Mobile phone subscriptions
China
1.87 billion
in 2024
United States
390.99 million
in 2024
China rank
1st
United States rank
3rd
Mobile phone subscriptions over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
China currently reports 1.87 billion against 390.99 million in United States, a difference of 1.48 billion.
That makes China's figure about 4.8 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 42 shared years of data; in 1980 it was United States ahead.
China ranks 1st and United States ranks 3rd of 212 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, China averaged higher in 3 and United States in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,962 | 1.13 million | 1.13 million | United States |
| 1990s | 9.33 million | 35.24 million | 25.91 million | United States |
| 2000s | 383.11 million | 194.34 million | 188.77 million | China |
| 2010s | 1.30 billion | 323.51 million | 975.98 million | China |
| 2020s | 1.78 billion | 372.57 million | 1.41 billion | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher mobile phone subscriptions, China or United States?
- China, at 1.87 billion against 390.99 million in United States as of 2024.
- What is the difference in mobile phone subscriptions between China and United States?
- 1.48 billion, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 42 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
- How do China and United States rank globally for mobile phone subscriptions?
- China ranks 1st and United States ranks 3rd of 212 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.