Mobile phone subscriptions in Japan
Japan: Mobile phone subscriptions was 221.92 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Japan, 1980–2023
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, mobile phone subscriptions in Japan stood at 221.92 million. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 50.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Japan peaked at 221.92 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Japan 6th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 13,275 | — |
| 1982 | 19,804 | +49.2% |
| 1983 | 27,198 | +37.3% |
| 1984 | 40,392 | +48.5% |
| 1985 | 61,800 | +53.0% |
| 1986 | 95,131 | +53.9% |
| 1987 | 150,773 | +58.5% |
| 1988 | 242,888 | +61.1% |
| 1989 | 489,558 | +101.6% |
| 1990 | 868,078 | +77.3% |
| 1991 | 1.38 million | +58.8% |
| 1992 | 1.71 million | +24.3% |
| 1993 | 2.13 million | +24.5% |
| 1994 | 4.33 million | +103.2% |
| 1995 | 11.71 million | +170.4% |
| 1996 | 26.91 million | +129.7% |
| 1997 | 38.25 million | +42.2% |
| 1998 | 47.31 million | +23.7% |
| 1999 | 56.85 million | +20.2% |
| 2000 | 66.78 million | +17.5% |
| 2001 | 74.82 million | +12.0% |
| 2002 | 81.12 million | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 86.66 million | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 91.47 million | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 96.48 million | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 99.83 million | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 107.34 million | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 110.39 million | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 116.30 million | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 123.29 million | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 132.76 million | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 141.13 million | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 147.89 million | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 157.86 million | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 160.56 million | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 166.85 million | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 172.79 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 179.87 million | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 186.51 million | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 195.06 million | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 200.48 million | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 210.75 million | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 221.92 million | +5.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 221.92 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 47.2× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Japan's 221.92 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.10 million, 54.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +170.4% | 4.33 million | 11.71 million |
| 1996 | +129.7% | 11.71 million | 26.91 million |
| 1994 | +103.2% | 2.13 million | 4.33 million |
| 1989 | +101.6% | 242,888 | 489,558 |
| 1990 | +77.3% | 489,558 | 868,078 |
| 1988 | +61.1% | 150,773 | 242,888 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 114,082 | 0 | 489,558 | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.14 million | 868,078 | 56.85 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 93.12 million | 66.78 million | 116.30 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 156.95 million | 123.29 million | 186.51 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 207.05 million | 195.06 million | 221.92 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More science & technology data for Japan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 178.43 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.78 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 221.92 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 608.71 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 5.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.3 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 96,543 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0008 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Japan?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Japan was 221.92 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 221.92 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Japan rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Japan ranks 6th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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).