Mobile phone subscriptions in Yemen
Yemen: Mobile phone subscriptions was 20.05 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Yemen, 1980–2023
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 Yemen is 20.05 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.9% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Yemen peaked at 20.05 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Yemen 66th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, 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 Yemen, 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 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 1,550 | — |
| 1993 | 5,170 | +233.5% |
| 1994 | 8,191 | +58.4% |
| 1995 | 8,250 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 8,810 | +6.8% |
| 1997 | 12,245 | +39.0% |
| 1998 | 16,146 | +31.9% |
| 1999 | 27,677 | +71.4% |
| 2000 | 32,042 | +15.8% |
| 2001 | 147,837 | +361.4% |
| 2002 | 486,667 | +229.2% |
| 2003 | 675,162 | +38.7% |
| 2004 | 1.48 million | +118.6% |
| 2005 | 2.28 million | +54.3% |
| 2006 | 2.98 million | +30.7% |
| 2007 | 4.35 million | +46.0% |
| 2008 | 6.45 million | +48.2% |
| 2009 | 8.31 million | +29.0% |
| 2010 | 11.09 million | +33.3% |
| 2011 | 11.67 million | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 13.90 million | +19.1% |
| 2013 | 16.84 million | +21.2% |
| 2014 | 17.10 million | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 15.02 million | -12.2% |
| 2016 | 16.43 million | +9.4% |
| 2017 | 15.36 million | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 15.30 million | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 15.24 million | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 15.18 million | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 17.76 million | +17.0% |
| 2022 | 17.76 million | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 20.05 million | +12.9% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 20.05 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 15.00 million, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 20.05 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.65 million, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Yemen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +361.4% | 32,042 | 147,837 |
| 1993 | +233.5% | 1,550 | 5,170 |
| 2002 | +229.2% | 147,837 | 486,667 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 8,804 | 0 | 27,677 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.72 million | 32,042 | 8.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.79 million | 11.09 million | 17.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.68 million | 15.18 million | 20.05 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More science & technology data for Yemen
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 50.89 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.5089 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 20.05 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 37.97 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 9.56 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 12.91 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 404.01 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Yemen?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Yemen was 20.05 million in 2023, 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 Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 20.05 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Yemen rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Yemen ranks 66th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Yemen 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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