Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita was 1.72 units per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Korea, 1980–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Korea stood at 1.72 units per person. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 6.3% on the previous year and up 52.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Korea peaked at 1.72 units per person in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 units per person, in 1980.
South Korea ranks 16th of 212 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 by country, per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | units per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 units per person | — |
| 1981 | 0 units per person | — |
| 1982 | 0 units per person | — |
| 1983 | 0 units per person | — |
| 1986 | 0.0002 units per person | — |
| 1987 | 0.0002 units per person | +43.2% |
| 1988 | 0.0005 units per person | +96.5% |
| 1989 | 0.0009 units per person | +93.2% |
| 1990 | 0.0019 units per person | +99.5% |
| 1991 | 0.0038 units per person | +105.6% |
| 1992 | 0.0062 units per person | +62.0% |
| 1993 | 0.0107 units per person | +71.7% |
| 1994 | 0.0215 units per person | +101.5% |
| 1995 | 0.0364 units per person | +69.2% |
| 1996 | 0.0699 units per person | +92.0% |
| 1997 | 0.1497 units per person | +114.2% |
| 1998 | 0.3029 units per person | +102.3% |
| 1999 | 0.5029 units per person | +66.0% |
| 2000 | 0.5705 units per person | +13.4% |
| 2001 | 0.6132 units per person | +7.5% |
| 2002 | 0.6788 units per person | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 0.7014 units per person | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 0.7609 units per person | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 0.7957 units per person | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 0.8299 units per person | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 0.9114 units per person | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 0.9297 units per person | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 0.9723 units per person | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 1.02 units per person | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 1.05 units per person | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 1.07 units per person | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 1.08 units per person | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 1.13 units per person | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 1.16 units per person | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 1.2 units per person | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 1.24 units per person | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 1.29 units per person | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 1.33 units per person | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 1.36 units per person | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 1.41 units per person | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 1.49 units per person | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 1.62 units per person | +8.9% |
| 2024 | 1.72 units per person | +6.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.72 units per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.25 units per person, 1.4× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.72 units per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.15 units per person, 1.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 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 | +114.2% | 0.0699 units per person | 0.1497 units per person |
| 1991 | +105.6% | 0.0019 units per person | 0.0038 units per person |
| 1998 | +102.3% | 0.1497 units per person | 0.3029 units per person |
| 1994 | +101.5% | 0.0107 units per person | 0.0215 units per person |
| 1990 | +99.5% | 0.0009 units per person | 0.0019 units per person |
| 1988 | +96.5% | 0.0002 units per person | 0.0005 units per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0002 units per person | 0 units per person | 0.0009 units per person | 8 |
| 1990s | 0.1106 units per person | 0.0019 units per person | 0.5029 units per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7764 units per person | 0.5705 units per person | 0.9723 units per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.16 units per person | 1.02 units per person | 1.33 units per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.52 units per person | 1.36 units per person | 1.72 units per person | 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 unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 89.22 million (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, per capita in South Korea?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Korea was 1.72 units per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.72 units per person in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 units per person in 1980.
- How does South Korea rank for mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita?
- South Korea ranks 16th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.7%. 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, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 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 divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Mobile phone subscriptions International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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 divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.