How can a country have more than 100 SIMs per 100 people?

The figure counts active SIM cards, not unique people. Many users carry two SIMs for separate work and personal numbers or to exploit different network deals, and additional SIMs power tablets, hotspots and IoT devices. So the count often exceeds the population, sometimes well above 100 per 100 inhabitants.

What does SIMs per 100 people measure?

It is the number of active mobile-cellular subscriptions divided by the population, scaled to 100. A value of 120 means 120 active SIMs for every 100 residents. It measures subscription density, not the share of people who own a phone, which is always lower.

Does high SIM penetration mean everyone has a phone?

Not necessarily. Because some people hold several SIMs while others hold none, a country above 100 per 100 can still leave a minority without any mobile service. Unique mobile ownership is a separate, lower statistic than SIM penetration.

Which regions lead in mobile penetration?

Parts of East Asia, the Gulf states and Eastern Europe show very high SIM density, often well over 150 per 100 people, driven by dual-SIM culture and prepaid markets. Some lower-income countries remain below 100 as networks and affordability catch up.

Are these figures exact?

No. Subscription counts come from operator reporting and definitions of an active SIM vary, with inactive accounts sometimes lingering. The figures here are approximate ITU/GSMA-style estimates for a recent year, intended for comparison.

Mobile Phone Penetration by Country Reference

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Mobile subscriptions around the world

This reference shows mobile-cellular penetration for major countries: active SIM cards per 100 inhabitants and total subscriptions in millions, alongside each country’s region. Sort by either column and filter by country or region. Many countries exceed 100 per 100 people — the table highlights those.

How it works

The headline figure is active SIM cards per 100 inhabitants. Crucially, it counts SIM cards, not people. A single person may hold several SIMs — one for work and one personal, plus cards in a tablet, mobile hotspot or connected device. Those extra subscriptions push the count above the population, so many countries register well over 100 per 100 residents.

That makes SIM penetration distinct from unique mobile ownership, which counts how many individuals have at least one phone and is always lower. A country can sit at 150 SIMs per 100 people while a minority still has no mobile service at all. The total-subscriptions column shows absolute scale, dominated by the most populous nations.

Notes and caveats

Values above 100 reflect dual-SIM habits, prepaid markets and IoT devices, not more phones than people.
Inactive or rarely used SIMs may linger in operator counts, inflating totals.
SIM penetration is not the same as smartphone ownership or mobile internet use.
Figures are approximate ITU/GSMA-style estimates for a recent year, for reference and comparison.