Mobile phone subscriptions in France
France: Mobile phone subscriptions was 77.53 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in France, 1980–2023
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 France is 77.53 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in France peaked at 77.53 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
France ranks 26th of 212 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 9,055 | — |
| 1987 | 39,234 | +333.3% |
| 1988 | 98,332 | +150.6% |
| 1989 | 178,400 | +81.4% |
| 1990 | 283,200 | +58.7% |
| 1991 | 375,000 | +32.4% |
| 1992 | 436,700 | +16.5% |
| 1993 | 572,000 | +31.0% |
| 1994 | 883,000 | +54.4% |
| 1995 | 1.30 million | +47.5% |
| 1996 | 2.46 million | +89.1% |
| 1997 | 5.82 million | +136.2% |
| 1998 | 11.21 million | +92.7% |
| 1999 | 21.43 million | +91.2% |
| 2000 | 29.05 million | +35.5% |
| 2001 | 37.00 million | +27.3% |
| 2002 | 38.59 million | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 41.70 million | +8.1% |
| 2004 | 44.54 million | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 48.09 million | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 51.66 million | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 55.36 million | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 57.97 million | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 57.92 million | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 57.78 million | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 59.82 million | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 62.26 million | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 63.32 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 65.42 million | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 66.68 million | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 67.57 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 69.02 million | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 70.42 million | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 72.04 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 72.75 million | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 75.30 million | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 76.85 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 77.53 million | +0.9% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 77.53 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 16.5× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- France's 77.53 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.71 million, 10.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in France 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +333.3% | 9,055 | 39,234 |
| 1988 | +150.6% | 39,234 | 98,332 |
| 1997 | +136.2% | 2.46 million | 5.82 million |
| 1998 | +92.7% | 5.82 million | 11.21 million |
| 1999 | +91.2% | 11.21 million | 21.43 million |
| 1996 | +89.1% | 1.30 million | 2.46 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 32,502 | 0 | 178,400 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.48 million | 283,200 | 21.43 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.19 million | 29.05 million | 57.97 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.43 million | 57.78 million | 72.04 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 75.61 million | 72.75 million | 77.53 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
More science & technology data for France
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 116.69 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.13 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 77.53 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 143.85 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.6356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.8809 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 62,180 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0009 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in France?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in France was 77.53 million in 2023, 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 77.53 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does France rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- France ranks 26th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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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CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).