By the end of 2025, approximately 8.8 billion mobile phone subscriptions will exist worldwide, with smartphones accounting for 7.3 billion of these connections. The global mobile landscape continues to expand as 5G technology reaches 2.9 billion subscriptions, representing one-third of all mobile lines. These figures reveal a world where mobile subscriptions exceed the total human population, reflecting the widespread adoption of multiple devices per person.
According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, worldwide mobile subscriptions reached 8.66 billion as of the end of 2024. Industry forecasts from TeleGeography Blog suggest this number will climb to approximately 8.8 billion by the conclusion of 2025.
This subscription count includes all mobile connections across smartphones, feature phones, tablets with SIM cards, and other cellular-enabled devices. The figure indicates that mobile subscriptions now exceed the global population of roughly 8 billion people.
The metric reflects an average of more than one mobile subscription per person globally. This pattern emerges from individuals maintaining multiple devices, separate business and personal lines, and the widespread use of tablets with cellular connectivity.
Smartphone subscriptions represent the majority of mobile connections worldwide. Data from Ericsson shows smartphone subscriptions reached 6.93 billion in 2023 and increased to approximately 7.13 billion by the end of 2024.
Forecasts project smartphone subscriptions will reach 7.3 billion by the end of 2025, solidifying their position as the dominant mobile device category. This represents more than 80% of all mobile subscriptions globally.
The subscription figures measure active mobile lines and devices rather than unique individuals. Many people maintain multiple smartphone subscriptions for various purposes, including separate work phones, backup devices, and regional SIM cards for travel.
Feature phones continue to maintain a presence in the global mobile market. Subtracting smartphone subscriptions from total mobile subscriptions reveals approximately 1.53 billion connections for feature phones and other mobile device types as of late 2024.
According to BankMyCell, an estimated 8.31 billion mobile phones existed globally in 2024, including both smartphones and feature phones. Feature phones represent roughly 17-20% of total mobile subscriptions, serving users who prefer basic functionality or live in regions where smartphone infrastructure remains limited.
The feature phone segment serves specific use cases, including emergency backup devices, basic communication needs in developing regions, and devices for users seeking simplified technology without internet connectivity.
The distinction between subscriptions and users provides insight into mobile device ownership patterns. Approximately 4.88 billion unique individuals owned smartphones globally in 2024, according to Priori Data.
Projections suggest smartphone users will reach 5.27 billion people by 2025. This user count represents individuals who own at least one smartphone, regardless of how many devices or subscriptions they maintain.
The gap between 7.21 billion smartphone subscriptions and 4.88 billion users demonstrates significant device layering. Many individuals maintain multiple smartphone lines, use tablets with cellular connections, and separate business from personal communications.
Mobile subscription penetration varies significantly across regions. According to Our World in Data, mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 people have exceeded 100 in many areas, indicating multiple subscriptions per person on average.
Developed regions show high penetration rates, often exceeding 120 subscriptions per 100 people. This pattern reflects affluent populations with multiple devices, tablets with SIM cards, and IoT device connectivity.
Developing regions continue to experience rapid growth as mobile infrastructure expands and smartphone costs decrease. While these areas show lower current penetration, they represent the primary growth markets for mobile subscriptions through 2025 and beyond.
The transition to 5G networks represents a significant dimension of mobile phone statistics. Ericsson reported 5G subscriptions reached approximately 2.3 billion globally by the end of 2024, representing 27% of all mobile connections.
Forecasts from GSA project 5G subscriptions will reach 2.9 billion by the end of 2025, accounting for roughly one-third of all mobile subscriptions worldwide. This rapid adoption reflects carrier infrastructure investments and the availability of 5G-capable devices across price points.
Meanwhile, 4G subscriptions totaled 4.9 billion in early 2025 but are beginning to decline as users upgrade to 5G-enabled devices. The shift away from older 2G and 3G technologies continues globally, with many carriers phasing out legacy networks.