Mobile vs. fixed-line phones: A map showing the countries with the most cell phones per capita.

A Fascinating Map Showing the Countries with the Most Mobile Phones

A Fascinating Map Showing the Countries with the Most Mobile Phones

A partnership of Slate and the New America Foundation.
Feb. 9 2012 12:20 PM

Which Countries Have the Most Mobile Phones?

The Slate/New America Foundation map of the week.

Mobile phones
Mobile phones

Jupiterimages/© Getty Images

Mobile-phone subscriptions now outnumber the fixed-line variety by nearly 2-to-1 in the United States. Nine in 10 Americans have a cell phone. Globally speaking, that's nothing—a handful of countries are nearing two mobiles per resident, and in many landline-deprived African nations, the mobile-to-fixed ratio tops 200-to-1. The map below—the first in the new Slate/New America Foundation Map of the Week series—details today's real digital divides.

Want to learn more?  See “Mobile Phones Will Not Save the Poorest of the Poor,” or watch the webcast of today's New America event, "Mobile Disconnect: Can Mobile Solutions Combat Global Poverty?"

Number of mobile phone subscribers per 100 residents

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Andy Hull is a web developer in New America’s Global Assets Program.

Nick McClellan is web production manager of NewAmerica.net.

Troy K. Schneider is New America’s director of media and technology.