Mobile phone subscriptions in South Korea
South Korea: Mobile phone subscriptions was 89.22 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in South Korea, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in South Korea stood at 89.22 million. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 55.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in South Korea peaked at 89.22 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
South Korea ranks 21st of 212 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 7,090 | — |
| 1987 | 10,255 | +44.6% |
| 1988 | 20,353 | +98.5% |
| 1989 | 39,718 | +95.1% |
| 1990 | 80,005 | +101.4% |
| 1991 | 166,108 | +107.6% |
| 1992 | 271,927 | +63.7% |
| 1993 | 471,784 | +73.5% |
| 1994 | 960,258 | +103.5% |
| 1995 | 1.64 million | +70.9% |
| 1996 | 3.18 million | +93.8% |
| 1997 | 6.88 million | +116.2% |
| 1998 | 14.02 million | +103.8% |
| 1999 | 23.44 million | +67.2% |
| 2000 | 26.82 million | +14.4% |
| 2001 | 29.05 million | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 32.34 million | +11.4% |
| 2003 | 33.59 million | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 36.59 million | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 38.34 million | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 40.20 million | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 44.37 million | +10.4% |
| 2008 | 45.61 million | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 47.94 million | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 50.77 million | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 52.51 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 53.62 million | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 54.68 million | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 57.29 million | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 58.94 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 61.30 million | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 63.66 million | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 66.36 million | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 68.89 million | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 70.51 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 72.86 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 76.99 million | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 83.89 million | +9.0% |
| 2024 | 89.22 million | +6.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 89.22 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 19.0× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 89.22 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.10 million, 21.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +116.2% | 3.18 million | 6.88 million |
| 1991 | +107.6% | 80,005 | 166,108 |
| 1994 | +103.5% | 471,784 | 960,258 |
| 1998 | +103.8% | 6.88 million | 14.02 million |
| 1990 | +101.4% | 39,718 | 80,005 |
| 1988 | +98.5% | 10,255 | 20,353 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9,677 | 0 | 39,718 | 8 |
| 1990s | 5.11 million | 80,005 | 23.44 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.48 million | 26.82 million | 47.94 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.80 million | 50.77 million | 68.89 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.70 million | 70.51 million | 89.22 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More science & technology data for South Korea
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 172.52 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.72 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 89.22 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 859.55 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 6.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 6.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 71,724 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0014 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in South Korea?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in South Korea was 89.22 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 89.22 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does South Korea rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- South Korea ranks 21st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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 — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).