Mobile phone subscriptions in Portugal
Portugal: Mobile phone subscriptions was 12.94 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Portugal, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in Portugal stood at 12.94 million.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Portugal peaked at 14.05 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Portugal 82nd 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 2,782 | — |
| 1990 | 6,500 | +133.6% |
| 1991 | 12,600 | +93.8% |
| 1992 | 37,262 | +195.7% |
| 1993 | 101,300 | +171.9% |
| 1994 | 173,508 | +71.3% |
| 1995 | 340,845 | +96.4% |
| 1996 | 663,651 | +94.7% |
| 1997 | 1.51 million | +127.1% |
| 1998 | 3.07 million | +104.0% |
| 1999 | 4.67 million | +51.9% |
| 2000 | 6.66 million | +42.7% |
| 2001 | 7.98 million | +19.7% |
| 2002 | 8.67 million | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 10.00 million | +15.4% |
| 2004 | 10.57 million | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 11.45 million | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 12.23 million | +6.8% |
| 2007 | 13.48 million | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 14.05 million | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 11.80 million | -16.0% |
| 2010 | 12.21 million | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 12.33 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 11.92 million | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 11.99 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 11.90 million | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 11.71 million | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 11.57 million | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 11.76 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 11.86 million | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 11.91 million | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 11.85 million | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 12.45 million | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 12.79 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 12.83 million | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 12.94 million | +0.9% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 12.94 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 2.8× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 12.94 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.71 million, 1.7× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Portugal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +195.7% | 12,600 | 37,262 |
| 1993 | +171.9% | 37,262 | 101,300 |
| 1990 | +133.6% | 2,782 | 6,500 |
| 1997 | +127.1% | 663,651 | 1.51 million |
| 1998 | +104.0% | 1.51 million | 3.07 million |
| 1995 | +96.4% | 173,508 | 340,845 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 278.2 | 0 | 2,782 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.06 million | 6,500 | 4.67 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.69 million | 6.66 million | 14.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.92 million | 11.57 million | 12.33 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.57 million | 11.85 million | 12.94 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More science & technology data for Portugal
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 124.13 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.21 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 12.94 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 140.06 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.9171 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.8644 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 18,225 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0017 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Portugal?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Portugal was 12.94 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 14.05 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Portugal rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Portugal ranks 82nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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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