Mobile phone subscriptions in Canada
Canada: Mobile phone subscriptions was 37.40 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Canada, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in Canada stood at 37.40 million. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 29.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Canada peaked at 37.40 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Canada 44th 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 12,000 | — |
| 1986 | 60,000 | +400.0% |
| 1987 | 98,364 | +63.9% |
| 1988 | 202,633 | +106.0% |
| 1989 | 345,178 | +70.3% |
| 1990 | 583,766 | +69.1% |
| 1991 | 775,831 | +32.9% |
| 1992 | 1.03 million | +32.3% |
| 1993 | 1.33 million | +29.8% |
| 1994 | 1.87 million | +40.0% |
| 1995 | 2.59 million | +38.8% |
| 1996 | 3.50 million | +35.1% |
| 1997 | 4.20 million | +19.9% |
| 1998 | 5.35 million | +27.4% |
| 1999 | 6.91 million | +29.3% |
| 2000 | 8.73 million | +26.3% |
| 2001 | 10.65 million | +22.0% |
| 2002 | 11.87 million | +11.5% |
| 2003 | 13.29 million | +12.0% |
| 2004 | 15.02 million | +13.0% |
| 2005 | 17.02 million | +13.3% |
| 2006 | 18.75 million | +10.2% |
| 2007 | 20.28 million | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 22.09 million | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 23.81 million | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 25.83 million | +8.5% |
| 2011 | 26.84 million | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 27.72 million | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 28.36 million | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 28.79 million | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 29.77 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 30.75 million | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 31.69 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 33.21 million | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 34.37 million | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 32.36 million | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 33.61 million | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 35.42 million | +5.4% |
| 2023 | 37.00 million | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 37.40 million | +1.1% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 37.40 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 8.0× the median. (82 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Canada 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 | +400.0% | 12,000 | 60,000 |
| 1988 | +106.0% | 98,364 | 202,633 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 71,818 | 0 | 345,178 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.81 million | 583,766 | 6.91 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.15 million | 8.73 million | 23.81 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.73 million | 25.83 million | 34.37 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.16 million | 32.36 million | 37.40 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More science & technology data for Canada
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 94.11 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.9064 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 37.40 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 4.21 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.0464 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 63,720 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0016 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Canada?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Canada was 37.40 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 37.40 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Canada rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Canada ranks 44th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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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