TECH
Hong Kong has more mobile subscriptions than people
Hong Kong reports 365 mobile subscriptions per 100 people — more than three per person. Here's why, and what the number actually measures.
The short answer
Hong Kong has the highest mobile subscription rate in the world among economies with more than one million people: 365 subscriptions per 100 people in 2024. The UAE (203), Libya (193) and Russia (186) follow. The world average is 112.
The full top 10
| Rank | Country / economy | Subscriptions per 100 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong | 365 |
| 2 | UAE | 203 |
| 3 | Libya | 193 |
| 4 | Russia | 186 |
| 5 | Cote d'Ivoire | 184 |
| 6 | South Africa | 179 |
| 7 | Japan | 178 |
| 8 | Israel | 177 |
| 9 | El Salvador | 177 |
| 10 | Colombia | 174 |
What the number means
This indicator counts active SIM cards, not people or phones. A single person with a personal phone, a work phone and a prepaid data SIM counts as three subscriptions.
Why some places are so high
Places with high subscription rates often have inexpensive prepaid plans, a mix of business and personal lines, or many short-term SIM cards issued to tourists and migrant workers.
Why it matters
Because this metric can exceed 100% so easily, it's a poor proxy for 'how many people have a phone.' Individual ownership surveys, not this indicator, are the better source for that question.
How we made this
Data: World Bank, World Development Indicators (indicator IT.CEL.SETS.P2), latest available year per economy (2022–2025, mostly 2024). We compare economies with at least one million people.
Frequently asked questions
Does this mean everyone in Hong Kong has 3+ phones?
No — it means there are that many active subscriptions relative to the population. Ownership is spread unevenly; some people have several lines, others have none.
Where does South Korea rank?
South Korea ranks 13th, at 173 subscriptions per 100 people.