As of 2025, there are over 8.5 billion active mobile phone subscriptions worldwide, according to estimates from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and data platforms like GSMA Intelligence. This figure slightly exceeds the current world population—approximately 8.1 billion—highlighting not just global mobile penetration, but also the reality that many individuals and entities use more than one mobile number.
1. Understanding "Active Mobile Numbers"
An "active" mobile number typically refers to a SIM card or phone number that has been used to make or receive calls, send text messages, or use mobile data within a recent period—usually 90 days. Mobile carriers and regulators use such activity thresholds to define active users.
It’s important to distinguish between:
Unique users: Actual individual mobile phone owners.
Subscriptions or numbers: The total count of SIM cards or mobile lines in use.
Because many people own multiple phones or SIMs (for work, travel, or privacy), the number of mobile subscriptions is higher than the number of unique users.
2. Regional Distribution
Mobile number activity varies by region:
Asia-Pacific: Holds the largest share, with countries like recent mobile phone number data China and India accounting for billions of active subscriptions combined. In India alone, over 1.1 billion mobile numbers are active.
Africa: Rapidly growing in mobile adoption, with over 1.2 billion mobile subscriptions, largely due to mobile-first internet access and financial services like mobile money.
Europe: Nearly every adult has at least one mobile number, and in some countries (like Italy), the number of active mobile lines exceeds the population.
North America: High saturation, with over 400 million active mobile numbers between the U.S. and Canada.
Latin America and the Caribbean: Mobile penetration is above 100%, with strong growth in smartphone usage and mobile broadband.
3. Why the Numbers Exceed Global Population
There are several reasons why mobile subscriptions outnumber people:
Dual SIM usage: Common in many parts of Asia and Africa to take advantage of pricing differences across carriers.
Multiple devices: Individuals may use separate phones for work, personal use, or data-only devices like tablets and IoT gadgets.
Inactive recycling delay: Operators often delay recycling unused numbers, temporarily inflating counts.
Business and machine usage: Many businesses use separate mobile lines, and the rise of M2M (Machine-to-Machine) and IoT (Internet of Things) applications also contributes—devices like smart meters, GPS trackers, and connected cars use unique SIMs.
4. Global Mobile Penetration
According to GSMA, global mobile penetration (mobile subscriptions per 100 people) has reached about 107%. This doesn't mean every person has a phone; rather, it reflects multiple subscriptions per individual in many parts of the world.
For example:
Sub-Saharan Africa has a mobile penetration rate near 80%, but this is expected to grow.
Europe and North America often show penetration rates well above 100%.
5. Conclusion
As of 2025, more than 8.5 billion active mobile numbers are in use worldwide, outpacing global population figures due to multiple subscriptions per user, business accounts, and connected devices. The mobile phone remains one of the most pervasive technologies globally, serving as a core component of communication, commerce, and digital identity. While mobile growth is slowing in saturated markets, emerging regions continue to drive new activations and innovative uses of mobile connectivity.
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