Mobile accessory demand sits within a much larger connectivity ecosystem. In 2024, the world had 9.1 billion mobile-cellular subscriptions and 5.5 billion people were online, while Ericsson measured 123 exabytes of mobile data traffic per month.
Key Mobile Accessory Statistics
The most broadly useful figures span subscriptions, access, devices, networks and usage:
- 9.1 billion mobile-cellular subscriptions existed worldwide in 2024, equal to 112 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.
- High-income economies recorded about 138 mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2024.
- Low-income economies recorded about 71 mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2024.
- 5.5 billion people were online worldwide in 2024, representing 68% of the world population.
- About 2.6 billion people remained offline worldwide in 2024, or one-third of the population.
- 93% of people in high-income countries used the internet in 2024.
- 27% of people in low-income countries used the internet in 2024.
- Worldwide smartphone subscriptions reached 7.13 billion in 2024.
- Mobile PC, tablet and mobile-router subscriptions reached 290 million worldwide in 2024.
- Global mobile-broadband subscriptions reached 7.71 billion in 2024.
- Global 5G subscriptions reached 2.30 billion in 2024.
- Global LTE subscriptions stood at 4.93 billion in 2024.
- Average global smartphone data traffic reached 19 GB per month per smartphone in 2024.
- Global mobile data traffic reached 123 EB per month in 2024.
- North American smartphone data traffic averaged 22 GB per month in 2024.
- Sub-Saharan African smartphone data traffic averaged 5.0 GB per month in 2024.
- Ericsson forecasts 6.29 billion global 5G subscriptions in 2030.
- Ericsson forecasts average global smartphone data traffic of 42 GB per month in 2031.
Contents
- Mobile-cellular and mobile-broadband subscription statistics
- Internet-use data by income and region
- Smartphone, tablet and router adoption trends
- 5G, LTE and network-generation trends
- Mobile data traffic and device usage intensity
- Mobile accessory outlook through 2030 and 2031
Mobile-Cellular and Mobile-Broadband Subscription Statistics
The ITU estimates that worldwide mobile-cellular subscriptions reached 9.1 billion in 2024, or 112 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. This is a subscription measure rather than a count of people, phones or accessories, because one person can hold multiple SIMs.
| Geography or measure | 2024 result | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| World mobile-cellular subscriptions | 9.1 billion; 112 per 100 inhabitants | Subscriptions |
| High-income economies | 138 per 100 inhabitants | Subscriptions |
| Low-income economies | 71 per 100 inhabitants | Subscriptions |
| Commonwealth of Independent States | Nearly 147 per 100 inhabitants | Regional subscriptions |
| Africa | About 98 per 100 inhabitants | Regional subscriptions |
| World mobile broadband | 95 per 100 inhabitants | Active subscriptions |
Source: Facts and Figures 2024 – Subscriptions.
Mobile-broadband subscriptions reached 95 per 100 inhabitants worldwide in 2024, and the ITU estimates they grew at an average 5% annually from 2020 to 2024. Mobile-cellular subscriptions grew more slowly, at an average 1.1% annually over the same period.
These figures describe connectivity capacity around phones, tablets, computers and routers. They do not measure accessory unit sales or the retail value of chargers, cases, power banks, cables or other mobile products.
Mobile Accessory Data: Internet Use by Income and Region
The ITU estimates that 5.5 billion people, or 68% of the world population, were online in 2024. The global share rose from 65% in 2023 to 68% in 2024, although the comparison uses revised ITU estimates.
About 2.6 billion people, or one-third of the world population, remained offline in 2024. Internet use measures population-level access and use, not mobile-only activity or ownership of an accessory.
| Geography | Internet use in 2024 |
|---|---|
| High-income countries | 93% |
| Low-income countries | 27% |
| Europe, CIS and the Americas | 87%–92% |
| Arab States | Approximately 70% |
| Asia-Pacific | Approximately 66% |
| Africa | 38% |
| Least developed countries | 35% |
| Landlocked developing countries | 39% |
Source: Facts and Figures 2024 – Internet use.
The 2024 low-income-economy internet-use growth rate averaged 8.5%. Regional averages can conceal substantial differences among countries, and the least-developed-country and landlocked-developing-country figures are ITU country-group aggregates rather than accessory-adoption rates.
Smartphone, Tablet and Router Adoption Trends
Ericsson estimated 6.93 billion worldwide smartphone subscriptions in 2023, rising to 7.13 billion in 2024. Its combined mobile-PC, tablet and mobile-router category increased from 260 million subscriptions in 2023 to 290 million in 2024.
| Measure | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone subscriptions worldwide | 6.93 billion | 7.13 billion |
| Mobile-broadband subscriptions worldwide | 7.40 billion | 7.71 billion |
| Mobile PC, tablet and mobile-router subscriptions | 260 million | 290 million |
Source: Ericsson Mobility Report June 2025.
Ericsson’s 2024 regional estimates show how differently the connected-device base is distributed:
- North America had 390 million smartphone subscriptions.
- China had 1.71 billion smartphone subscriptions.
- India, Nepal and Bhutan had 920 million smartphone subscriptions; this is Ericsson’s regional grouping, not India alone.
- Sub-Saharan Africa had 540 million smartphone subscriptions.
- Western Europe had 500 million smartphone subscriptions.
- Latin America had 620 million smartphone subscriptions.
These are subscription estimates, not unique people, handset shipments or accessory purchases. The combined mobile-PC, tablet and router category is also broader than tablets alone.
5G, LTE and Network-Generation Mobile Accessory Trends
Global 5G subscriptions increased from 1.62 billion in 2023 to 2.30 billion in 2024. Global 5G standalone subscriptions rose from 920 million to 1.27 billion over the same period, while LTE subscriptions declined from 5.18 billion to 4.93 billion.
| Technology or geography | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Global 5G subscriptions | 1.62 billion | 2.30 billion |
| Global 5G standalone subscriptions | 920 million | 1.27 billion |
| Global LTE subscriptions | 5.18 billion | 4.93 billion |
| Global GSM/EDGE-only subscriptions | 1.01 billion | 870 million |
Source: Ericsson Mobility Report June 2025.
Regional 2024 5G subscription estimates included 316 million in North America, 1.014 billion in China, 290 million across India, Nepal and Bhutan, and 11 million in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ericsson forecasts 6.29 billion global 5G subscriptions in 2030.
Technology subscriptions can overlap in reporting and do not directly measure compatible handset ownership, coverage, accessory compatibility or 5G accessory sales.
Mobile Data Traffic and Device Usage Intensity
Ericsson estimated average global smartphone data traffic at 19 GB per month per smartphone in 2024, up from 17 GB in 2023. This is mobile-network traffic per smartphone subscription and excludes some activity carried over Wi-Fi.
| Device or traffic measure | 2024 result | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone traffic per device | 19 GB/month | Worldwide mobile network |
| Mobile PC traffic per device | 26 GB/month | Worldwide mobile network |
| Tablet traffic per device | 16 GB/month | Worldwide mobile network |
| Global mobile data traffic | 123 EB/month | Defined mobile traffic categories |
| Smartphone-generated traffic | 121 EB/month | Worldwide mobile network |
| Fixed Wireless Access traffic | 41 EB/month | Ericsson traffic table |
| Total mobile network traffic | 164 EB/month | Includes FWA and other categories |
Source: Ericsson Mobility Report June 2025.
Regional usage intensity varied substantially. North American smartphone data traffic averaged 22 GB per month in 2024, compared with 32 GB across India, Nepal and Bhutan and 5.0 GB in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Western Europe generated 9.9 EB per month of mobile data traffic in 2024. Ericsson’s traffic totals are network measures, not total data generated by devices, and the regional groupings follow Ericsson’s definitions.
Mobile Accessory Statistics Outlook Through 2030 and 2031
Ericsson’s 2030 forecast points to a larger connected-device and higher-traffic environment:
- Worldwide mobile subscriptions are forecast at 9.43 billion in 2030.
- Worldwide smartphone subscriptions are forecast at 8.29 billion in 2030.
- Worldwide mobile-broadband subscriptions are forecast at 9.05 billion in 2030.
- Average global smartphone data traffic is forecast at 37 GB per month in 2030.
- Global smartphone-generated mobile traffic is forecast at 274 EB per month in 2030.
- Total mobile network traffic is forecast at 431 EB per month in 2030.
Source: Ericsson Mobility Report June 2025.
A later Ericsson 2025 key-figure table forecasts 8.49 billion smartphone subscriptions and 328 EB per month of mobile data traffic worldwide in 2031. It also forecasts 6.4 billion 5G subscriptions worldwide in 2031 and average smartphone data traffic of 42 GB per month.
Source: Global and regional key figures – Ericsson Mobility Report.
The 2030 and 2031 values are forecasts, not observed outcomes, and come from different forecast vintages. They describe subscriptions and Ericsson-defined network traffic rather than accessory revenue, unit sales or a direct measure of battery, charger, case, cable or power-bank demand.