Mobile phone subscriptions in Brazil
Brazil: Mobile phone subscriptions was 216.08 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Brazil, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile phone subscriptions in Brazil is 216.08 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 23.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Brazil peaked at 280.73 million in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Brazil ranks 7th 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 phone subscriptions in Brazil, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 667 | — |
| 1991 | 6,700 | +904.5% |
| 1992 | 32,000 | +377.6% |
| 1993 | 182,000 | +468.8% |
| 1994 | 574,009 | +215.4% |
| 1995 | 1.29 million | +124.0% |
| 1996 | 2.50 million | +94.3% |
| 1997 | 4.55 million | +82.1% |
| 1998 | 7.37 million | +61.9% |
| 1999 | 15.03 million | +104.0% |
| 2000 | 23.19 million | +54.3% |
| 2001 | 28.75 million | +24.0% |
| 2002 | 34.88 million | +21.3% |
| 2003 | 46.37 million | +32.9% |
| 2004 | 65.61 million | +41.5% |
| 2005 | 86.21 million | +31.4% |
| 2006 | 99.92 million | +15.9% |
| 2007 | 120.98 million | +21.1% |
| 2008 | 150.64 million | +24.5% |
| 2009 | 169.39 million | +12.4% |
| 2010 | 196.93 million | +16.3% |
| 2011 | 234.36 million | +19.0% |
| 2012 | 248.32 million | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 271.10 million | +9.2% |
| 2014 | 280.73 million | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 257.81 million | -8.2% |
| 2016 | 244.07 million | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 221.27 million | -9.3% |
| 2018 | 209.41 million | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 202.01 million | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 205.84 million | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 219.66 million | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 212.93 million | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 213.29 million | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 216.08 million | +1.3% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 216.08 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.03 million, 26.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 216.08 million is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 4.51 million, 47.9× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Brazil 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +904.5% | 667 | 6,700 |
| 1993 | +468.8% | 32,000 | 182,000 |
| 1992 | +377.6% | 6,700 | 32,000 |
| 1994 | +215.4% | 182,000 | 574,009 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.15 million | 667 | 15.03 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 82.59 million | 23.19 million | 169.39 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 236.60 million | 196.93 million | 280.73 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 213.56 million | 205.84 million | 219.66 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More science & technology data for Brazil
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 101.93 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.02 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 216.08 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 25.52 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.8978 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 58,292 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0003 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Brazil?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Brazil was 216.08 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 Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 280.73 million in 2014.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Brazil rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Brazil ranks 7th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brazil 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).