Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people in South Korea
South Korea: Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people was 172.52 per 100 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
172.52 per 100 people
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
17th
of 212 countries
All-time high
172.52 per 100 people
in 2024
All-time low
0 per 100 people
in 1960
Years of data
51
1960–2024
Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 100 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people in South Korea is 172.52 per 100 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.4% on the previous year and up 52.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people in South Korea peaked at 172.52 per 100 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 per 100 people, in 1960.
That places South Korea 17th 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 and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people in South Korea, year by year
| Year | per 100 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1965 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1970 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1975 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1976 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1977 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1978 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1979 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1980 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1981 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1982 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1983 | 0 per 100 people | — |
| 1986 | 0.017 per 100 people | — |
| 1987 | 0.0242 per 100 people | +42.6% |
| 1988 | 0.0473 per 100 people | +95.8% |
| 1989 | 0.0912 per 100 people | +92.6% |
| 1990 | 0.1813 per 100 people | +98.9% |
| 1991 | 0.3734 per 100 people | +105.9% |
| 1992 | 0.6083 per 100 people | +62.9% |
| 1993 | 1.05 per 100 people | +72.6% |
| 1994 | 2.13 per 100 people | +102.5% |
| 1995 | 3.62 per 100 people | +70.1% |
| 1996 | 6.97 per 100 people | +92.7% |
| 1997 | 14.97 per 100 people | +114.8% |
| 1998 | 30.31 per 100 people | +102.5% |
| 1999 | 50.39 per 100 people | +66.3% |
| 2000 | 57.34 per 100 people | +13.8% |
| 2001 | 61.74 per 100 people | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 68.38 per 100 people | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 70.7 per 100 people | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 76.7 per 100 people | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 80.13 per 100 people | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 83.73 per 100 people | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 92.09 per 100 people | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 94.31 per 100 people | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 98.76 per 100 people | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 104.1 per 100 people | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 106.88 per 100 people | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 108.11 per 100 people | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 109.21 per 100 people | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 113.36 per 100 people | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 115.59 per 100 people | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 119.49 per 100 people | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 123.64 per 100 people | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 128.5 per 100 people | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 133.08 per 100 people | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 135.97 per 100 people | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 140.52 per 100 people | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 148.68 per 100 people | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 162.11 per 100 people | +9.0% |
| 2024 | 172.52 per 100 people | +6.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 172.52 per 100 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 125.74 per 100 people, 1.4× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 172.52 per 100 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 115.3 per 100 people, 1.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +114.8% | 6.97 per 100 people | 14.97 per 100 people |
| 1991 | +105.9% | 0.1813 per 100 people | 0.3734 per 100 people |
| 1994 | +102.5% | 1.05 per 100 people | 2.13 per 100 people |
| 1998 | +102.5% | 14.97 per 100 people | 30.31 per 100 people |
| 1990 | +98.9% | 0.0912 per 100 people | 0.1813 per 100 people |
| 1988 | +95.8% | 0.0242 per 100 people | 0.0473 per 100 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 6 |
| 1980s | 0.0225 per 100 people | 0 per 100 people | 0.0912 per 100 people | 8 |
| 1990s | 11.06 per 100 people | 0.1813 per 100 people | 50.39 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.39 per 100 people | 57.34 per 100 people | 98.76 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 116.2 per 100 people | 104.1 per 100 people | 133.08 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 151.96 per 100 people | 135.97 per 100 people | 172.52 per 100 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More science & technology data for South Korea
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 172.52 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.72 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 89.22 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 859.55 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 6.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 6.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 71,724 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0014 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people in South Korea?
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people in South Korea was 172.52 per 100 people in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 172.52 per 100 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 per 100 people in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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 and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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