India vs United States: Mobile phone subscriptions

India
1.15 billion
in 2024
United States
390.99 million
in 2024
India rank
2nd
United States rank
3rd

Mobile phone subscriptions over time

  • India
  • United States
0250.0M500.0M750.0M1.0B1.2B198020022024

How they compare

India currently reports 1.15 billion against 390.99 million in United States, a difference of 760.37 million.

That makes India's figure about 2.9 times United States's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 42 shared years of data; in 1980 it was United States ahead.

India ranks 2nd and United States ranks 3rd of 212 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, India averaged higher in 2 and United States in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade India United States Difference Ahead
1980s 0 1.13 million 1.13 million United States
1990s 436,620 35.24 million 34.80 million United States
2000s 147.08 million 194.34 million 47.26 million United States
2010s 996.64 million 323.51 million 673.12 million India
2020s 1.15 billion 372.57 million 779.55 million India

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher mobile phone subscriptions, India or United States?
India, at 1.15 billion against 390.99 million in United States as of 2024.
What is the difference in mobile phone subscriptions between India and United States?
760.37 million, with India ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for India and United States?
42 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
How do India and United States rank globally for mobile phone subscriptions?
India ranks 2nd 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.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator
Mobile phone subscriptions
Source
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
212 places, 9,009 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed