Mobile phone subscriptions in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Mobile phone subscriptions was 7.98 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Bulgaria, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 7.98 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Bulgaria peaked at 10.78 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Bulgaria 102nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Bulgaria, 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 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 1,000 | — |
| 1994 | 6,500 | +550.0% |
| 1995 | 20,920 | +221.8% |
| 1996 | 26,588 | +27.1% |
| 1997 | 70,000 | +163.3% |
| 1998 | 127,000 | +81.4% |
| 1999 | 350,000 | +175.6% |
| 2000 | 738,000 | +110.9% |
| 2001 | 1.55 million | +110.0% |
| 2002 | 2.60 million | +67.6% |
| 2003 | 3.50 million | +34.8% |
| 2004 | 4.73 million | +35.1% |
| 2005 | 6.24 million | +32.0% |
| 2006 | 8.25 million | +32.2% |
| 2007 | 9.90 million | +19.9% |
| 2008 | 10.43 million | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 10.45 million | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 10.20 million | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 10.48 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 10.78 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 10.49 million | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 9.49 million | -9.5% |
| 2015 | 9.19 million | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 8.97 million | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 8.53 million | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 8.39 million | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 8.13 million | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 7.95 million | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 7.90 million | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 7.96 million | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 8.01 million | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 7.98 million | -0.4% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 7.98 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 1.7× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 7.98 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.71 million, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Bulgaria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +550.0% | 1,000 | 6,500 |
| 1995 | +221.8% | 6,500 | 20,920 |
| 1999 | +175.6% | 127,000 | 350,000 |
| 1997 | +163.3% | 26,588 | 70,000 |
| 2000 | +110.9% | 350,000 | 738,000 |
| 2001 | +110.0% | 738,000 | 1.55 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 60,201 | 0 | 350,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.84 million | 738,000 | 10.45 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.47 million | 8.13 million | 10.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.96 million | 7.90 million | 8.01 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More science & technology data for Bulgaria
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 118.07 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.24 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 7.98 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 73.83 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.1136 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.4474 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 4,998 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0008 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Bulgaria?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Bulgaria was 7.98 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 10.78 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Bulgaria rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Bulgaria ranks 102nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.
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