More People Around The World Have Cellphones Than Ever Had Landlines

There are almost as many cell phone subscriptions (6.8 billion) as there are people on this earth (seven billion) -- and it took a little more than 20 years for that to happen. In 2013, there were some 96 cell phone service subscriptions for every 100 people in the world.

Those figures are the latest from the United Nations’ telecommunications agency, which keeps track of the rise and fall of various kinds of communications technology. Of course, 100 subscriptions doesn’t mean that everyone has a cell phone, just most people. In wealthier countries, penetration rates exceed 100% because of individuals with multiple subscriptions, making up for the disparity in developing economies. Still, penetration rates are impressive even in poor countries, with an average of 89.4 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.