IP Democracy: U.S. Ranks 49th Worldwide in Cell Phone Ownership

High technology is a key U.S. economic strength, but you wouldn’t know it based on the steady stream of statistics that rank the U.S. below supposedly lesser developed nations on key metrics of digital connectivity. Another bit of bad news for the United States: it ranks 49th globally in cell phone ownership.

According to the World Bank’s World Development Indicators 2006, Hong Kong is number one in cell phone ownership with 1,184 devices per 1,000 people. Bahrain is tops among Muslim nations, with 907 mobile phone subscribers per 1,000 people — Bahrain also beats out the U.S., ranking 21st worldwide.

The U.S. has only 617 subscribers per 1,000 people, making it 49th globally, while Canada counts only 469 subscribers per 1,000 people.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on October 29, 2006 4:42 PM to IP Democracy