Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita was 1.21 units per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in United Kingdom, 1980–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in United Kingdom stood at 1.21 units per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in United Kingdom peaked at 1.23 units per person in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 units per person, in 1980.
United Kingdom ranks 87th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in United Kingdom, 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 | — |
| 1984 | 0 units per person | — |
| 1985 | 0.0009 units per person | — |
| 1986 | 0.0023 units per person | +159.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0051 units per person | +122.6% |
| 1988 | 0.0098 units per person | +92.7% |
| 1989 | 0.0171 units per person | +73.7% |
| 1990 | 0.0195 units per person | +13.9% |
| 1991 | 0.0219 units per person | +12.8% |
| 1992 | 0.0262 units per person | +19.3% |
| 1993 | 0.0393 units per person | +50.1% |
| 1994 | 0.0681 units per person | +73.3% |
| 1995 | 0.0989 units per person | +45.2% |
| 1996 | 0.1246 units per person | +26.0% |
| 1997 | 0.1516 units per person | +21.7% |
| 1998 | 0.2544 units per person | +67.8% |
| 1999 | 0.4633 units per person | +82.1% |
| 2000 | 0.7378 units per person | +59.3% |
| 2001 | 0.7829 units per person | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 0.8292 units per person | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 0.9096 units per person | +9.7% |
| 2004 | 0.995 units per person | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 1.08 units per person | +8.9% |
| 2006 | 1.15 units per person | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 1.2 units per person | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 1.21 units per person | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 1.23 units per person | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 1.22 units per person | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 1.22 units per person | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 1.23 units per person | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 1.23 units per person | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 1.21 units per person | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.22 units per person | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 1.2 units per person | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 1.2 units per person | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 1.19 units per person | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.21 units per person | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 1.18 units per person | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 1.19 units per person | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.21 units per person | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 1.23 units per person | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 1.21 units per person | -1.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.21 units per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.25 units per person, 97% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.21 units per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.24 units per person, 98% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +159.4% | 0.0009 units per person | 0.0023 units per person |
| 1987 | +122.6% | 0.0023 units per person | 0.0051 units per person |
| 1988 | +92.7% | 0.0051 units per person | 0.0098 units per person |
| 1999 | +82.1% | 0.2544 units per person | 0.4633 units per person |
| 1989 | +73.7% | 0.0098 units per person | 0.0171 units per person |
| 1994 | +73.3% | 0.0393 units per person | 0.0681 units per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0035 units per person | 0 units per person | 0.0171 units per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1268 units per person | 0.0195 units per person | 0.4633 units per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.01 units per person | 0.7378 units per person | 1.23 units per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.21 units per person | 1.19 units per person | 1.23 units per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.21 units per person | 1.18 units per person | 1.23 units per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More science & technology data for United Kingdom
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 121.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 84.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 348.57 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.9277 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.2704 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 97,536 (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 United Kingdom?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in United Kingdom was 1.21 units per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.23 units per person in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 units per person in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita?
- United Kingdom ranks 87th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 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 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.