Mobile phone subscriptions in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Mobile phone subscriptions was 84.10 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 84.10 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in United Kingdom peaked at 84.33 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places United Kingdom 24th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 50,000 | — |
| 1986 | 130,000 | +160.0% |
| 1987 | 290,000 | +123.1% |
| 1988 | 560,000 | +93.1% |
| 1989 | 975,000 | +74.1% |
| 1990 | 1.11 million | +14.3% |
| 1991 | 1.26 million | +13.1% |
| 1992 | 1.51 million | +19.6% |
| 1993 | 2.27 million | +50.5% |
| 1994 | 3.94 million | +73.7% |
| 1995 | 5.74 million | +45.6% |
| 1996 | 7.25 million | +26.4% |
| 1997 | 8.84 million | +22.0% |
| 1998 | 14.88 million | +68.3% |
| 1999 | 27.18 million | +82.7% |
| 2000 | 43.45 million | +59.8% |
| 2001 | 46.28 million | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 49.23 million | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 54.26 million | +10.2% |
| 2004 | 59.69 million | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 65.47 million | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 70.08 million | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 73.84 million | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 74.94 million | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 76.48 million | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 76.73 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 77.16 million | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 78.33 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 78.67 million | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 78.46 million | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 79.25 million | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 78.93 million | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 79.10 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 78.89 million | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 80.70 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 79.01 million | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 79.77 million | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 81.70 million | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 84.33 million | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 84.10 million | -0.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 84.10 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 17.9× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 84.10 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.71 million, 10.9× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in United Kingdom 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 | +160.0% | 50,000 | 130,000 |
| 1987 | +123.1% | 130,000 | 290,000 |
| 1988 | +93.1% | 290,000 | 560,000 |
| 1999 | +82.7% | 14.88 million | 27.18 million |
| 1989 | +74.1% | 560,000 | 975,000 |
| 1994 | +73.7% | 2.27 million | 3.94 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 200,500 | 0 | 975,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.40 million | 1.11 million | 27.18 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.37 million | 43.45 million | 76.48 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.62 million | 76.73 million | 80.70 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.78 million | 79.01 million | 84.33 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More science & technology data for United Kingdom
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 121.64 (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 84.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 348.57 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.9277 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.2704 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 97,536 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0014 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in United Kingdom?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in United Kingdom was 84.10 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 84.33 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- United Kingdom ranks 24th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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).