Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled in South Korea
South Korea: Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled was 89.22 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled in South Korea, 1980–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled in South Korea is 89.22 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 55.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled in South Korea peaked at 89.22 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places South Korea 21st out of 212 countries with data for 2024, 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 by country, gaps filled in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 2,363 | — |
| 1985 | 4,727 | +100.0% |
| 1986 | 7,090 | +50.0% |
| 1987 | 10,255 | +44.6% |
| 1988 | 20,353 | +98.5% |
| 1989 | 39,718 | +95.1% |
| 1990 | 80,005 | +101.4% |
| 1991 | 166,108 | +107.6% |
| 1992 | 271,927 | +63.7% |
| 1993 | 471,784 | +73.5% |
| 1994 | 960,258 | +103.5% |
| 1995 | 1.64 million | +70.9% |
| 1996 | 3.18 million | +93.8% |
| 1997 | 6.88 million | +116.2% |
| 1998 | 14.02 million | +103.8% |
| 1999 | 23.44 million | +67.2% |
| 2000 | 26.82 million | +14.4% |
| 2001 | 29.05 million | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 32.34 million | +11.4% |
| 2003 | 33.59 million | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 36.59 million | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 38.34 million | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 40.20 million | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 44.37 million | +10.4% |
| 2008 | 45.61 million | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 47.94 million | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 50.77 million | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 52.51 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 53.62 million | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 54.68 million | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 57.29 million | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 58.94 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 61.30 million | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 63.66 million | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 66.36 million | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 68.89 million | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 70.51 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 72.86 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 76.99 million | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 83.89 million | +9.0% |
| 2024 | 89.22 million | +6.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 89.22 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 19.0× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 89.22 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.10 million, 21.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +116.2% | 3.18 million | 6.88 million |
| 1991 | +107.6% | 80,005 | 166,108 |
| 1994 | +103.5% | 471,784 | 960,258 |
| 1998 | +103.8% | 6.88 million | 14.02 million |
| 1990 | +101.4% | 39,718 | 80,005 |
| 1985 | +100.0% | 2,363 | 4,727 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8,451 | 0 | 39,718 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.11 million | 80,005 | 23.44 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.48 million | 26.82 million | 47.94 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.80 million | 50.77 million | 68.89 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.70 million | 70.51 million | 89.22 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More science & technology data for South Korea
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 172.52 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.72 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 859.55 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 6.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 6.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 71,724 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0014 units per person (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled in South Korea?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled in South Korea was 89.22 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 89.22 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does South Korea rank for mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled?
- South Korea ranks 21st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country with 77 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Mobile phone subscriptions International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country with 77 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.