Mobile phone subscriptions in Australia
Australia: Mobile phone subscriptions was 30.07 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Australia, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in Australia stood at 30.07 million. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Australia peaked at 30.07 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Australia 48th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 4,423 | — |
| 1988 | 31,622 | +614.9% |
| 1989 | 94,529 | +198.9% |
| 1990 | 184,943 | +95.6% |
| 1991 | 291,459 | +57.6% |
| 1992 | 497,000 | +70.5% |
| 1993 | 690,000 | +38.8% |
| 1994 | 1.22 million | +76.8% |
| 1995 | 2.24 million | +83.8% |
| 1996 | 3.99 million | +78.0% |
| 1997 | 4.58 million | +14.7% |
| 1998 | 4.92 million | +7.4% |
| 1999 | 6.32 million | +28.4% |
| 2000 | 8.56 million | +35.6% |
| 2001 | 11.13 million | +30.0% |
| 2002 | 12.67 million | +13.8% |
| 2003 | 14.35 million | +13.2% |
| 2004 | 16.48 million | +14.9% |
| 2005 | 18.42 million | +11.8% |
| 2006 | 19.76 million | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 21.26 million | +7.6% |
| 2008 | 22.12 million | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 22.20 million | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 22.50 million | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 23.79 million | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 24.34 million | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 24.94 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 25.06 million | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 25.77 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 26.55 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 26.66 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 27.64 million | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 27.97 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 27.01 million | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 27.29 million | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 28.68 million | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 29.76 million | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 30.07 million | +1.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 30.07 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 6.4× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Australia's 30.07 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.10 million, 7.3× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +614.9% | 4,423 | 31,622 |
| 1989 | +198.9% | 31,622 | 94,529 |
| 1990 | +95.6% | 94,529 | 184,943 |
| 1995 | +83.8% | 1.22 million | 2.24 million |
| 1996 | +78.0% | 2.24 million | 3.99 million |
| 1994 | +76.8% | 690,000 | 1.22 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13,057 | 0 | 94,529 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.49 million | 184,943 | 6.32 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.70 million | 8.56 million | 22.20 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.52 million | 22.50 million | 27.97 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.56 million | 27.01 million | 30.07 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More science & technology data for Australia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 112.58 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.11 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, gaps filled 30.07 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 3.87 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.0604 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 54,589 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Australia?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Australia was 30.07 million in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 30.07 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Australia rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Australia ranks 48th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).