Mobile phone subscriptions in Netherlands
Netherlands: Mobile phone subscriptions was 23.43 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Netherlands, 1980–2024
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 Netherlands is 23.43 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Netherlands peaked at 23.43 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Netherlands ranks 58th of 212 countries on this measure, 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 4,800 | — |
| 1986 | 15,300 | +218.8% |
| 1987 | 24,200 | +58.2% |
| 1988 | 33,000 | +36.4% |
| 1989 | 56,000 | +69.7% |
| 1990 | 79,000 | +41.1% |
| 1991 | 115,000 | +45.6% |
| 1992 | 166,000 | +44.3% |
| 1993 | 216,000 | +30.1% |
| 1994 | 321,000 | +48.6% |
| 1995 | 539,000 | +67.9% |
| 1996 | 1.02 million | +88.5% |
| 1997 | 1.72 million | +69.0% |
| 1998 | 3.35 million | +95.2% |
| 1999 | 6.75 million | +101.3% |
| 2000 | 10.76 million | +59.4% |
| 2001 | 12.20 million | +13.4% |
| 2002 | 12.10 million | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 13.20 million | +9.1% |
| 2004 | 14.80 million | +12.1% |
| 2005 | 15.83 million | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 17.30 million | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 19.29 million | +11.5% |
| 2008 | 20.63 million | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 20.15 million | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 19.18 million | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 19.83 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 19.72 million | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 19.47 million | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 19.56 million | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 20.81 million | +6.4% |
| 2016 | 20.89 million | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 20.53 million | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 21.11 million | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 21.76 million | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 21.41 million | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 21.89 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 20.74 million | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 22.66 million | +9.3% |
| 2024 | 23.43 million | +3.4% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 23.43 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 5.0× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 23.43 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.71 million, 3.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Netherlands 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 | +218.8% | 4,800 | 15,300 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13,330 | 0 | 56,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.43 million | 79,000 | 6.75 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.62 million | 10.76 million | 20.63 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.29 million | 19.18 million | 21.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.03 million | 20.74 million | 23.43 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More science & technology data for Netherlands
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 128.54 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.3 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 23.43 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 673.15 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 2.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 3.38 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 32,207 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0018 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Netherlands?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Netherlands was 23.43 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 23.43 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Netherlands rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Netherlands ranks 58th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).