Global Mobile Data Usage: Traffic, GB per Smartphone and Forecasts
Mobile data traffic worldwide: 146 EB per month in 2025, 22 GB per smartphone, video at about 75% of traffic, and Ericsson forecasts to 2031.
- Updated October 1, 2026
- 5 min read
- 4 sources
- Global
Executive Summary
Ericsson estimates global mobile data traffic, excluding Fixed Wireless Access, at 146 EB per month at the end of 2025, up from 123 EB in 2024, and forecasts 328 EB per month in 2031. The average active smartphone used 22 GB per month in 2025, forecast to reach 42 GB in 2031. Video accounted for around 75% of mobile data traffic at the end of 2025. Total mobile network traffic rose 23% between Q2 2025 and Q2 2026, exceeding 220 EB per month.
Key Numbers
Charts
Ericsson estimates for 2024 and 2025 and forecast for 2031 (2031F). Mobile data excludes FWA; total mobile network traffic includes FWA.
- Mobile data 2024123
- Mobile data 2025146
- Mobile data 2031F328
- Total incl. FWA 2024166
- Total incl. FWA 2025203
- Total incl. FWA 2031F515
Ericsson estimates of monthly data traffic per active smartphone at end of 2025.
- India, Nepal and Bhutan37
- North America25
- Western Europe25
- Central and Eastern Europe23
- North East Asia23
- South East Asia and Oceania21
- Middle East and North Africa21
- Latin America15
- Sub-Saharan Africa5.3
Data Tables
Ericsson estimates, EB per month; 2031 is a forecast.
| Region | 2024 | 2025 | 2031F |
|---|---|---|---|
| North East Asia | 37 | 44 | 90 |
| India, Nepal and Bhutan | 24 | 30 | 68 |
| South East Asia and Oceania | 17 | 20 | 40 |
| Western Europe | 9.9 | 12 | 26 |
| North America | 8.7 | 11 | 22 |
| Middle East and North Africa | 9.2 | 11 | 30 |
| Central and Eastern Europe | 7.3 | 8.9 | 20 |
| Latin America | 6.9 | 8 | 21 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 2.3 | 2.8 | 9.7 |
Overview
Ericsson estimates global mobile data traffic, excluding Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), at 146 EB per month at the end of 2025, up from 123 EB per month in 2024 [1]. That is an increase of about 19% (FREEE.REPORT calculation). Smartphones generated 143 EB per month of this [1]. Including FWA, total mobile network traffic was 203 EB per month in 2025 [1].
The average active smartphone used 22 GB of mobile data per month at the end of 2025 [2], up from 19 GB in 2024 [1].
Recent Developments
Mobile network data traffic rose 23% between Q2 2025 and Q2 2026, and total monthly global mobile network data traffic exceeded 220 EB in Q2 2026 [3]. Ericsson says growth was mainly driven by India and North America [3].
Growth comes from both more smartphone subscriptions and more data per subscription, mainly due to video [3]. At the end of 2025, video accounted for around 75% of all mobile data traffic [3].
Regional Analysis
Usage per smartphone differs widely by region. India, Nepal and Bhutan had the highest average, at 37 GB per month in 2025, while Sub-Saharan Africa averaged 5.3 GB [1]. North America and Western Europe each averaged 25 GB [1].
ITU reports that a typical user in a high-income country generates nearly eight times more mobile data than one in a low-income country [4].
Forecast
Ericsson forecasts mobile data traffic, excluding FWA, to reach 328 EB per month in 2031, a 14% compound annual growth rate from 2025 [1]. FWA traffic is forecast to rise from 57 EB to 187 EB per month, and total mobile network traffic from 203 EB to 515 EB per month, a 17% CAGR [1]. Average data per smartphone is forecast to reach 42 GB per month in 2031 [1]. For comparison, total fixed data traffic is forecast to grow from 380 EB to 710 EB per month [1].
Methodology
Traffic data and forecasts come from Ericsson Mobility Report key figures and data pages [1][2][3]. EB means exabytes (one billion gigabytes). Mobile data traffic excludes FWA unless stated; total mobile network traffic includes FWA. Year values refer to year-end monthly traffic. Forecast values are marked with an F. The 2024-2025 growth rate (146 / 123 - 1) is a FREEE.REPORT calculation. The income-group comparison comes from ITU Facts and Figures 2025 [4].
Sources
- [1]
Global and regional key figures - Ericsson Mobility Report / Ericsson / Accessed October 1, 2026 / View source
- [2]
Mobile data traffic forecast - Ericsson Mobility Report / Ericsson / Accessed October 1, 2026 / View source
- [3]
Mobile data traffic update - Ericsson Mobility Report / Ericsson / 2026 / Accessed October 1, 2026 / View source
- [4]
Global number of Internet users increases, but disparities deepen key digital divides / International Telecommunication Union (ITU) / 2025-11-17 / Accessed October 1, 2026 / View source
Figures are reproduced from the publishers above. Calculations marked as our own are derived from these figures. Always check the original source before using a number.
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