Mobile phone subscriptions in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Mobile phone subscriptions was 6.98 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.98 million
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
113th
of 212 countries
All-time high
8.84 million
in 2017
All-time low
0
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Mobile phone subscriptions in Costa Rica, 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 Costa Rica is 6.98 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Costa Rica peaked at 8.84 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Costa Rica 113th 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 Costa Rica, 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 | 3,008 | — |
| 1993 | 4,533 | +50.7% |
| 1994 | 6,985 | +54.1% |
| 1995 | 18,750 | +168.4% |
| 1996 | 46,531 | +148.2% |
| 1997 | 64,387 | +38.4% |
| 1998 | 108,770 | +68.9% |
| 1999 | 138,178 | +27.0% |
| 2000 | 211,614 | +53.1% |
| 2001 | 326,944 | +54.5% |
| 2002 | 502,478 | +53.7% |
| 2003 | 778,299 | +54.9% |
| 2004 | 923,084 | +18.6% |
| 2005 | 1.10 million | +19.3% |
| 2006 | 1.44 million | +31.1% |
| 2007 | 1.51 million | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 1.89 million | +25.1% |
| 2009 | 1.95 million | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 3.13 million | +60.4% |
| 2011 | 4.15 million | +32.8% |
| 2012 | 5.38 million | +29.5% |
| 2013 | 7.11 million | +32.2% |
| 2014 | 7.02 million | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 7.54 million | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 8.33 million | +10.6% |
| 2017 | 8.84 million | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 8.50 million | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 7.23 million | -15.0% |
| 2020 | 7.17 million | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 7.12 million | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 6.94 million | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 6.82 million | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 6.98 million | +2.4% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 6.98 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 1.5× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 6.98 million is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 4.51 million, 1.5× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 39,114 | 0 | 138,178 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.06 million | 211,614 | 1.95 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.72 million | 3.13 million | 8.84 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.01 million | 6.82 million | 7.17 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More science & technology data for Costa Rica
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 136.03 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.36 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 6.98 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 133.51 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 660.82 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Costa Rica?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Costa Rica was 6.98 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 8.84 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Costa Rica rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Costa Rica ranks 113th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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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