Mobile Subscriptions Statistics in China (2026)

In 2024, mobile cellular subscriptions in China stood at 131.8 per 100 people, according to World Bank World Development Indicators data. Up from 128.2 per 100 people in 2023 to 131.8 per 100 people in 2024. China ranks #11 of 34 economies in East Asia & Pacific on this measure, and #54 of 210 globally.

Latest value (2024)
131.8 per 100 people (2024)
Mobile Subscriptions in China as of 2024, the most recent observation in World Bank World Development Indicators data.
Change since 2023
+2.7% (2024)
Up from 128.2 per 100 people in 2023 to 131.8 per 100 people in 2024.
CAGR 1990–2024
+39.5% per year (2024)
Compound annual growth rate from 0 per 100 people in 1990 to 131.8 per 100 people in 2024.
Earliest value in this dataset (1990)
0 per 100 people (1990)
Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Up from 0 per 100 people in 1990 to 131.8 per 100 people in 2024.
Record high (2024)
131.8 per 100 people (2024)
The 2024 value is the highest in the available World Bank World Development Indicators series for China.
Rank in East Asia & Pacific
#11 of 34 (2024)
China ranks 11 of 34 countries in East Asia & Pacific with data, based on each country's latest value.
Global rank
#54 of 210 (2024)
China ranks 54 of 210 countries with data globally.
East Asia & Pacific average
128.1 per 100 people (2024)
China (131.8 per 100 people) is above the average of 128.1 per 100 people across the 34 countries in East Asia & Pacific with data.
Projected 2026 value
140.9 per 100 people (2026)
Projection based on 7-year trend (CAGR 3.4%); not an official figure.
Mobile cellular subscriptions (2024)
1.9 billion (2024)
Related indicator from World Bank World Development Indicators.
Internet use in China (2025)
91.6% (2025)
91.6% of the population in China used the internet in 2025 (World Bank); shown for context only.
Population (2024)
1.4 billion (2024)
China had a population of 1.4 billion in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Mobile Subscriptions in China by year (per 100 people)
Year per 100 people Change
2024 132+2.7%
2023 128+3.3%
2022 124+2.2%
2021 121+0.8%
2020 120−1.8%
2019 123+5.5%
2018 116+11.7%
2017 104+7.1%
2016 97.2+5.1%
2015 92.5−0.1%
2014 92.7+4.0%
2013 89.1+9.8%
2012 81.2+12.0%
2011 72.5+14.1%
2010 63.6+14.2%
2009 55.7+15.8%
2008 48.1+16.5%
2007 41.3+18.0%
2006 35+16.5%
2005 30+16.8%
2004 25.7+23.3%
2003 20.9+30.3%
2002 16+41.3%
2001 11.3+68.6%
2000 6.7+94.7%
1999 3.4+80.2%
1998 1.9+79.0%
1997 1.1+91.6%
1996 0.6+87.3%
1995 0.3+129.4%
1994 0.1+143.4%
1993 0.1+256.9%
1992 0+268.0%
1991 0+155.8%
1990 0
Mobile Subscriptions in China, 1990–2024Line chart of 35 observations from 1990 to 2024. Values range from 0 to 132; the series starts at 0 in 1990 and ends at 132 in 2024.05010015019902000201020240132
Fig. 1 — Mobile Subscriptions in China, 1990–2024

Frequently asked questions

What is the latest figure for mobile cellular subscriptions in China?

Mobile cellular subscriptions in China stood at 131.8 per 100 people in 2024, according to World Bank World Development Indicators data.

What could mobile subscriptions in China look like in 2026?

A trend-based projection puts it at 140.9 per 100 people in 2026. Projection based on 7-year trend (CAGR 3.4%); not an official figure.

How recent is the mobile subscriptions data for China?

The most recent observation is from 2024. World Bank World Development Indicators data is reported with a lag, so 2024 is the latest available year for China.

Where does the mobile subscriptions data for China come from?

The data comes from the World Bank World Development Indicators (indicator IT.CEL.SETS.P2). The latest observation for China is from 2024; the snapshot was retrieved on 2026-06-10.

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IT.CEL.SETS.P2, retrieved .

Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.

Last updated .