{
  "schema_version": "1.1",
  "id": "gsma-5-78-billion-unique-mobile-users-oct-2025",
  "slug": "gsma-5-78-billion-unique-mobile-users-oct-2025",
  "url": "https://groundedkit.com/claims/gsma-5-78-billion-unique-mobile-users-oct-2025/",
  "api_url": "https://groundedkit.com/api/claims/gsma-5-78-billion-unique-mobile-users-oct-2025.json",
  "claim": "There were 5.78 billion unique mobile users worldwide in October 2025, 70.1% of the population (GSMA Intelligence)",
  "commonly_cited_as": "\"How many people have a mobile phone?\"",
  "verdict": "verified",
  "verdict_definition": "Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.",
  "confidence": "high",
  "rating": {
    "value": 5,
    "best": 5,
    "worst": 1
  },
  "origin": {
    "publisher": "DataReportal (Kepios), citing GSMA Intelligence",
    "title": "Digital 2026 Global Overview Report (published Oct. 2025)",
    "year": "2025"
  },
  "quote": "GSMA Intelligence ’s latest research indicates that there are 5.78 billion unique mobile users around the world in October 2025, which equates to 70.1 percent of the global population.",
  "method": "GSMA Intelligence estimate of unique mobile subscribers, as reported by Kepios/DataReportal.",
  "drift": [
    "Unique subscribers, not SIM connections (which are far higher)"
  ],
  "interest": "DataReportal reports are produced with Meltwater and We Are Social, which sell marketing services.",
  "safe_rephrasing": "GSMA Intelligence estimated 5.78 billion unique mobile users in October 2025, about 70% of the world's population.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "DataReportal — Digital 2026 Global Overview Report",
      "url": "https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2026-global-overview-report",
      "primary": true
    }
  ],
  "kind": "reference_fact",
  "as_of": "October 2025",
  "last_checked": "2026-10-17",
  "stale": false,
  "date_reviewed": "2026-10-17",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}