Verified Confidence: high
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
Safe rephrasing
GSMA Intelligence estimated 5.78 billion unique mobile users in October 2025, about 70% of the world's population.
What the source says
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.
DataReportal (Kepios), citing GSMA Intelligence — Digital 2026 Global Overview Report (published Oct. 2025)
- Commonly cited as
- "How many people have a mobile phone?"
- True origin
- DataReportal (Kepios), citing GSMA Intelligence — Digital 2026 Global Overview Report (published Oct. 2025)
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- 2025
- Data as of
- October 2025
- Last checked
- Method & sample
- GSMA Intelligence estimate of unique mobile subscribers, as reported by Kepios/DataReportal.
- Drift between quote and source
- Unique subscribers, not SIM connections (which are far higher)
- Interest
- DataReportal reports are produced with Meltwater and We Are Social, which sell marketing services.