Mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland
Ireland: Mobile phone subscriptions was 5.92 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 5.92 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland peaked at 5.92 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Ireland 121st 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 300 | — |
| 1986 | 1,500 | +400.0% |
| 1987 | 3,475 | +131.7% |
| 1988 | 6,300 | +81.3% |
| 1989 | 13,579 | +115.5% |
| 1990 | 25,000 | +84.1% |
| 1991 | 32,000 | +28.0% |
| 1992 | 44,000 | +37.5% |
| 1993 | 61,100 | +38.9% |
| 1994 | 88,000 | +44.0% |
| 1995 | 158,000 | +79.5% |
| 1996 | 288,600 | +82.7% |
| 1997 | 545,000 | +88.8% |
| 1998 | 946,000 | +73.6% |
| 1999 | 1.68 million | +77.3% |
| 2000 | 2.46 million | +46.8% |
| 2001 | 2.97 million | +20.7% |
| 2002 | 3.00 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 3.50 million | +16.7% |
| 2004 | 3.86 million | +10.3% |
| 2005 | 4.27 million | +10.6% |
| 2006 | 4.69 million | +9.8% |
| 2007 | 4.97 million | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 5.05 million | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 4.70 million | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 4.70 million | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 4.91 million | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 5.01 million | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 4.88 million | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 4.91 million | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.90 million | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 4.88 million | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 4.90 million | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 4.97 million | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 5.16 million | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 5.23 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 5.37 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 5.65 million | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 5.76 million | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 5.92 million | +2.8% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 5.92 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 1.3× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 5.92 million is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.71 million, 77% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland 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% | 300 | 1,500 |
| 1987 | +131.7% | 1,500 | 3,475 |
| 1989 | +115.5% | 6,300 | 13,579 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,515 | 0 | 13,579 | 10 |
| 1990s | 386,470 | 25,000 | 1.68 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.95 million | 2.46 million | 5.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.92 million | 4.70 million | 5.16 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.59 million | 5.23 million | 5.92 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More science & technology data for Ireland
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 112.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.1 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 5.92 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 83.58 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 8,720 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0016 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland was 5.92 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.92 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Ireland rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Ireland ranks 121st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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).