El Salvador is the Latin American country with the most mobile phone subscriptions per person, 176.5 per 100 people in 2024, followed by Colombia (174.1) and Panama (156.6, 2023 data), according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data published by the World Bank. Chile has 132.7 subscriptions per 100 people and ranks 7 of 19; Argentina, 140.2 (rank 5); Peru, 124.6; Mexico, 116.5; and Brazil, 101.9.
Latin America and the Caribbean have 116.8 subscriptions per 100 people in 2025, above the world average of 111.5. Most countries have more lines than people, because many users have more than one SIM card or inactive prepaid lines. At the other end are Honduras (70.9), Venezuela (71.0) and Cuba (72.9). This ranking of mobile subscriptions in Latin America is updated on this same page when the ITU publishes new data.
View the data as a table
| El Salvador | 176.5 |
| Chile | 132.7 |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | 116.8 |
| World | 111.5 |
Ranking of mobile subscriptions in Latin America by country
| Rank | Country | Subscriptions per 100 people | Subscriptions (millions) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Salvador | 176.5 | 11.2 | 2024 |
| 2 | Colombia | 174.1 | 92.1 | 2024 |
| 3 | Panama | 156.6 | 7.0 | 2023 |
| 4 | Uruguay | 145.5 | 4.9 | 2024 |
| 5 | Argentina | 140.2 | 64.1 | 2024 |
| 6 | Costa Rica | 136.0 | 7.0 | 2024 |
| 7 | Chile | 132.7 | 26.2 | 2024 |
| 8 | Paraguay | 126.6 | 8.7 | 2023 |
| 9 | Peru | 124.6 | 42.6 | 2024 |
| 10 | Mexico | 116.5 | 152.4 | 2024 |
| 11 | Guatemala | 112.5 | 20.7 | 2024 |
| 12 | Nicaragua | 106.0 | 7.3 | 2024 |
| 13 | Brazil | 101.9 | 216.1 | 2024 |
| 14 | Ecuador | 101.6 | 18.4 | 2024 |
| 15 | Bolivia | 98.0 | 12.2 | 2024 |
| 16 | Dominican Rep. | 93.7 | 10.7 | 2024 |
| 17 | Cuba | 72.9 | 8.0 | 2024 |
| 18 | Venezuela | 71.0 | 20.2 | 2024 |
| 19 | Honduras | 70.9 | 7.7 | 2024 |
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU) via the World Bank (IT.CEL.SETS.P2 and IT.CEL.SETS), accessed November 10, 2026. 2024 data; Panama and Paraguay, 2023. A subscription is an active mobile phone line, prepaid or postpaid, that has used the service in the last three months, according to the ITU definition.
View the data as a table
| El Salvador | 176.5 · 2024 |
| Colombia | 174.1 · 2024 |
| Panama | 156.6 · 2023 |
| Uruguay | 145.5 · 2024 |
| Argentina | 140.2 · 2024 |
| Costa Rica | 136.0 · 2024 |
| Chile | 132.7 · 2024 |
| Paraguay | 126.6 · 2023 |
| Peru | 124.6 · 2024 |
| Mexico | 116.5 · 2024 |
| Guatemala | 112.5 · 2024 |
| Nicaragua | 106.0 · 2024 |
| Brazil | 101.9 · 2024 |
| Ecuador | 101.6 · 2024 |
| Bolivia | 98.0 · 2024 |
| Dominican Republic | 93.7 · 2024 |
| Cuba | 72.9 · 2024 |
| Venezuela | 71.0 · 2024 |
| Honduras | 70.9 · 2024 |
How mobile subscriptions have grown since 2000
In 2000 there were 21.9 lines per 100 Chileans, 14.3 in Mexico and 4.8 in Peru. By 2010, Chile, Argentina and Peru already had more than one line per person. Since 2015 the figure has leveled off or fallen in several countries: Argentina went from 142.2 in 2015 to 140.2 in 2024, and Chile from 128.6 to 132.7. Mexico, by contrast, keeps rising: from 89.0 to 116.5.
View the data as a table
| Chile | Mexico | Argentina | Peru | Brazil | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.9 | 14.3 | 17.4 | 4.8 | 13.3 | 5.8 |
| 2005 | 64.7 | 44.5 | 56.5 | 19.9 | 46.7 | 51.9 |
| 2010 | 115.5 | 80.4 | 138.3 | 100.1 | 101.7 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 128.6 | 89.0 | 142.2 | 112.4 | 127.8 | 122.0 |
| 2020 | 129.4 | 96.9 | 121.2 | 119.8 | 98.7 | 133.7 |
| 2024 | 132.7 | 116.5 | 140.2 | 124.6 | 101.9 | 174.1 |
| Country | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | 21.9 | 64.7 | 115.5 | 128.6 | 129.4 | 132.7 |
| Mexico | 14.3 | 44.5 | 80.4 | 89.0 | 96.9 | 116.5 |
| Argentina | 17.4 | 56.5 | 138.3 | 142.2 | 121.2 | 140.2 |
| Peru | 4.8 | 19.9 | 100.1 | 112.4 | 119.8 | 124.6 |
| Brazil | 13.3 | 46.7 | 101.7 | 127.8 | 98.7 | 101.9 |
| Colombia | 5.8 | 51.9 | 99.3 | 122.0 | 133.7 | 174.1 |
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU) via the World Bank (IT.CEL.SETS.P2 and IT.CEL.SETS), accessed November 10, 2026. Declines may reflect changes in national regulators' methodology as well as market changes.
Mobile subscriptions in Chile, Mexico, Argentina and Peru
In absolute terms, Mexico is the largest of the four markets, with 152.4 million subscriptions in 2024, followed by Argentina (64.1 million), Peru (42.6 million) and Chile (26.2 million). Brazil, the region's largest, has 216.1 million. For other connectivity indicators, see the internet use ranking and the fixed broadband ranking for Latin America.
Frequently asked questions
Which Latin American country has the most mobile phones per person?
El Salvador, with 176.5 subscriptions per 100 people in 2024, according to the ITU via the World Bank.
How many mobile lines are there in Chile?
26.2 million in 2024, 132.7 per 100 people.
Why are there more lines than people?
Because one person can have several lines (personal, work, data) and because prepaid lines active in the last three months are counted.
How often is this ranking updated?
When the ITU and the World Bank publish new data, usually once a year. It is updated at this same URL.
How to cite this data
Vivarae News (2026). "Mobile phone subscriptions in Latin America: ranking by country 2026". Updated November 10, 2026. Available at https://vivaraenews.com/en/mobile-phone-subscriptions-in-latin-america-ranking-by-country-2026/. The data may be reproduced by citing Vivarae News and linking to this page; each country's figures come from the International Telecommunication Union, published by the World Bank.
