Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in South Korea
South Korea: Share of the population that owns a mobile phone was 97.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in South Korea, 2014–2023
Source: International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of the population that owns a mobile phone in South Korea stood at 97.4%.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population that owns a mobile phone in South Korea peaked at 97.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 84.7%, in 2014.
South Korea ranks 21st of 141 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 92.8% | 84.7% | 96.1% | 6 |
| 2020s | 97.1% | 96.2% | 97.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More science & technology data for South Korea
- Scientific and technical journal articles 71,724 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 89.22 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 172.52 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 172.52 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 51,753 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 97.9% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 186,245 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 4.9% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 50.59 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 47.8 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population that owns a mobile phone in South Korea?
- Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in South Korea was 97.4% in 2023, according to International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population that owns a mobile phone recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 97.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of the population that owns a mobile phone recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.7% in 2014.
- How does South Korea rank for share of the population that owns a mobile phone?
- South Korea ranks 21st out of 141 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population that owns a mobile phone rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population that owns a mobile phone. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex (%)