Mobile phone subscriptions in China
China: Mobile phone subscriptions was 1.87 billion in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in China, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 1.87 billion for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 45.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in China peaked at 1.87 billion in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
China ranks 1st of 212 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,373 | 0 | 9,805 | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.33 million | 18,319 | 43.30 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 383.11 million | 85.26 million | 747.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.30 billion | 859.00 million | 1.75 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.78 billion | 1.72 billion | 1.87 billion | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More science & technology data for China
- Scientific and technical journal articles 932,712 (2023)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 159,019 (2021)
- Patent applications, residents 1.43 million (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 2.6% (2023)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 47.19 per 100 people (2024)
- Researchers in R&D 2,107 per million people (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in China?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in China was 1.87 billion 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.87 billion in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does China rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- China ranks 1st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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).