Mobile phone subscriptions in Russia
Russia: Mobile phone subscriptions was 269.52 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Russia, 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 Russia is 269.52 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Russia peaked at 269.52 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Russia 5th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, 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 Russia, 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 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 300 | — |
| 1992 | 6,000 | +1900.0% |
| 1993 | 10,000 | +66.7% |
| 1994 | 27,744 | +177.4% |
| 1995 | 88,526 | +219.1% |
| 1996 | 223,002 | +151.9% |
| 1997 | 484,883 | +117.4% |
| 1998 | 747,160 | +54.1% |
| 1999 | 1.37 million | +83.4% |
| 2000 | 3.26 million | +138.1% |
| 2001 | 7.75 million | +137.5% |
| 2002 | 17.61 million | +127.2% |
| 2003 | 36.14 million | +105.2% |
| 2004 | 73.72 million | +104.0% |
| 2005 | 120.00 million | +62.8% |
| 2006 | 150.67 million | +25.6% |
| 2007 | 171.20 million | +13.6% |
| 2008 | 199.52 million | +16.5% |
| 2009 | 230.05 million | +15.3% |
| 2010 | 237.69 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 203.75 million | -14.3% |
| 2012 | 208.06 million | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 218.30 million | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 221.03 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 227.29 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 229.13 million | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 227.30 million | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 229.43 million | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 239.80 million | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 238.73 million | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 246.57 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 245.27 million | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 263.02 million | +7.2% |
| 2024 | 269.52 million | +2.5% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 269.52 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 57.3× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Russia's 269.52 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.71 million, 35.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Russia 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 | +1900.0% | 300 | 6,000 |
| 1995 | +219.1% | 27,744 | 88,526 |
| 1994 | +177.4% | 10,000 | 27,744 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 295,824 | 0 | 1.37 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 100.99 million | 3.26 million | 230.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 224.18 million | 203.75 million | 239.80 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 252.62 million | 238.73 million | 269.52 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More science & technology data for Russia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 186.1 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.88 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 269.52 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 16.06 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 2.91 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 85,558 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0006 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Russia?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Russia was 269.52 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 Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 269.52 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Russia rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Russia ranks 5th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia 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).