Mobile phone subscriptions in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Mobile phone subscriptions was 27.05 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Hong Kong, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in Hong Kong stood at 27.05 million. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 13.8% on the previous year and up 59.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Hong Kong peaked at 27.05 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Hong Kong 51st 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 Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 1,000 | — |
| 1985 | 4,400 | +340.0% |
| 1986 | 10,000 | +127.3% |
| 1987 | 28,060 | +180.6% |
| 1988 | 51,280 | +82.8% |
| 1989 | 89,193 | +73.9% |
| 1990 | 133,912 | +50.1% |
| 1991 | 189,664 | +41.6% |
| 1992 | 233,324 | +23.0% |
| 1993 | 290,843 | +24.7% |
| 1994 | 484,823 | +66.7% |
| 1995 | 798,373 | +64.7% |
| 1996 | 1.36 million | +70.6% |
| 1997 | 2.23 million | +63.7% |
| 1998 | 3.17 million | +42.4% |
| 1999 | 4.28 million | +34.7% |
| 2000 | 5.45 million | +27.4% |
| 2001 | 5.78 million | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 6.40 million | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 7.35 million | +14.9% |
| 2004 | 8.21 million | +11.8% |
| 2005 | 8.54 million | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 9.44 million | +10.5% |
| 2007 | 10.75 million | +13.8% |
| 2008 | 11.58 million | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 12.60 million | +8.8% |
| 2010 | 13.79 million | +9.5% |
| 2011 | 15.29 million | +10.9% |
| 2012 | 16.39 million | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 16.97 million | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 16.96 million | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 16.72 million | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 17.59 million | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 18.39 million | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 19.90 million | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 21.46 million | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 21.87 million | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 23.94 million | +9.5% |
| 2022 | 21.86 million | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 23.78 million | +8.8% |
| 2024 | 27.05 million | +13.8% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 27.05 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 5.8× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 27.05 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.10 million, 6.6× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Hong Kong 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +340.0% | 1,000 | 4,400 |
| 1987 | +180.6% | 10,000 | 28,060 |
| 1986 | +127.3% | 4,400 | 10,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18,393 | 0 | 89,193 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.32 million | 133,912 | 4.28 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.61 million | 5.45 million | 12.60 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.35 million | 13.79 million | 21.46 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.70 million | 21.86 million | 27.05 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More science & technology data for Hong Kong
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 364.85 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 3.6 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 27.05 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 22,647 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 14.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 13.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Digital connectivity composite index 2.53 standard deviations from the yearly mean (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 364.85 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Hong Kong?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Hong Kong was 27.05 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 Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 27.05 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Hong Kong rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Hong Kong ranks 51st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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 — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).