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Demographics of Mobile Device Ownership and Adoption in the United States

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Large shares of Americans are connected to the world of digital information while “on the go” via smartphones and other mobile devices. Explore the patterns and trends that have shaped the mobile revolution below.

To better understand Americans’ smartphone and broadband adoption, Pew Research Center surveyed 5,733 U.S. adults from May 19 to Sept. 5, 2023. Ipsos conducted this National Public Opinion Reference Survey (NPORS) for the Center using address-based sampling and a multimode protocol that included both web and mail. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race and ethnicity, education and other categories.

Polls from 2000 to 2021 were conducted via phone. For more on this mode shift, please read our Q&A.

Here are the questions used for this analysis, along with responses, and its methodology­­­.

Mobile phone ownership over time

The vast majority of Americans – 97% – now own a cellphone of some kind. Nine-in-ten own a smartphone, up from just 35% in Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011.

Mobile phone ownership

% of U.S. adults who say they own a …

Year Cellphone Smartphone
10/27/2002 62%  
11/30/2004 65%  
2/9/2005 66%  
12/31/2005 67%  
3/28/2006 66%  
4/6/2006 73%  
9/5/2007 76%  
12/2/2007 75%  
1/13/2008 77%  
5/11/2008 78%  
8/10/2008 82%  
12/20/2008 84%  
1/27/2009 85%  
4/19/2009 85%  
9/14/2009 84%  
12/27/2009 83%  
1/19/2010 80%  
5/30/2010 82%  
9/13/2010 85%  
11/1/2010 84%  
11/24/2010 82%  
11/28/2010 82%  
12/21/2010 81%  
3/20/2011 86%  
5/22/2011 83% 35%
8/26/2011 84%  
12/21/2011 87%  
1/8/2012 88%  
1/15/2012 87% 39%
2/19/2012 88% 45%
4/3/2012 88% 46%
8/5/2012 87% 44%
8/7/2012 89%  
9/6/2012 85% 45%
9/23/2012 88% 43%
9/30/2012 89%  
10/14/2012 88%  
11/4/2012 89%  
11/10/2012 84% 46%
12/9/2012 87% 45%
12/16/2012 88%  
1/6/2013 89% 51%
5/19/2013 91% 56%
7/14/2013 90% 53%
7/28/2013 91% 53%
9/16/2013 89% 54%
9/30/2013 91% 55%
10/6/2013 92% 58%
1/5/2014 92% 55%
1/12/2014 90% 58%
1/26/2014 91% 55%
2/18/2014 90%  
4/27/2014 92%  
9/21/2014 91%  
12/21/2014 89% 59%
4/12/2015 92% 67%
7/12/2015 92% 68%
11/15/2015 91% 69%
4/4/2016 92% 72%
5/3/2016 92% 70%
11/6/2016 95% 77%
1/10/2018 95% 77%
2/7/2019 96% 81%
2/8/2021 97% 85%
9/5/2023 97% 90%

Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2002-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. For more details on this shift, please read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2002-2023.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Who owns cellphones and smartphones?

Substantial majorities of Americans across a wide range of demographic groups are cellphone owners. The same is true for smartphone ownership – though some differences do emerge, particularly by age, household income and level of formal education.

% of U.S. adults who say they own a __, by …

Ages 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
Cellphone 99 99 98 94
Smartphone 97 97 89 76
Cellphone, but not smartphone 1 2 8 17
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 19-Sept. 5, 2023.
Men Women
Cellphone 97 97
Smartphone 91 90
Cellphone, but not smartphone 6 7
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 19-Sept. 5, 2023.
White Black Hispanic Asian*
Cellphone 97 96 98 99
Smartphone 91 84 91 97
Cellphone,
but not smartphone		 6 12 6 2
* Estimates for Asian adults are representative of English speakers only. 
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 19-Sept. 5, 2023.
Less than $30,000 $30,000- $69,999 $70,000- $99,999 $100,000+
Cellphone 94 98 98 99
Smartphone 79 90 94 98
Cellphone, but not smartphone 14 8 3 1
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 19-Sept. 5, 2023.
High school or less Some college College graduate+
Cellphone 95 98 99
Smartphone 83 92 97
Cellphone, but not smartphone 12 5 2
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 19-Sept. 5, 2023.
Urban Suburban Rural
Cellphone 97 98 97
Smartphone 91 93 87
Cellphone, but not smartphone 6 5 10
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 19-Sept. 5, 2023.
Rep/Lean Rep Dem/Lean Dem
Cellphone 97 98
Smartphone 92 91
Cellphone, but not smartphone 6 7
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 19-Sept. 5, 2023.

Smartphone dependency over time

Today, 15% of U.S. adults are “smartphone-only” internet users – meaning they own a smartphone, but do not have home broadband service.

Smartphone dependency

% of U.S. adults who say they do not use broadband at home but own smartphones

  U.S. adults
2013 8%
2015 13%
2016 12%
2018 20%
2019 17%
2021 15%
2023 15%
Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2013-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. For more details on this shift, please read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2013-2023. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys containing broadband and smartphone questions fielded during that year.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Who is smartphone dependent?

Reliance on smartphones for online access is especially common among Americans with lower household incomes and those with lower levels of formal education.

Smartphone dependency by age

% of U.S. adults who are smartphone dependent, by age

  Ages 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
2013 12% 9% 7% 3%
2015 19% 16% 11% 7%
2016 17% 13% 11% 7%
2018 28% 24% 16% 10%
2019 22% 18% 14% 12%
2021 28% 11% 13% 12%
2023 20% 11% 14% 16%
Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2013-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. For more details on this shift, please read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. 

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2013-2023. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys containing broadband and smartphone questions fielded during that year.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Smartphone dependency by race and ethnicity

% of U.S. adults who are smartphone dependent, by race and ethnicity

  White Black Hispanic Asian*
2013 6% 10% 16%
2015 10% 19% 23%
2016 9% 15% 23%
2018 14% 24% 35%
2019 12% 23% 25%
2021 12% 17% 25%
2023 12% 21% 20% 14%
Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2013-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. For more details on this shift, please read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanic adults are of any race. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2013-2023. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys containing broadband and smartphone questions fielded during that year.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Smartphone dependency by gender

% of U.S. adults who are smartphone dependent, by gender

  Men Women
2013 9% 8%
2015 14% 13%
2016 12% 12%
2018 20% 19%
2019 17% 16%
2021 14% 15%
2023 15% 14%
Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2013-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. For more details on this shift, please read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2013-2023. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys containing broadband and smartphone questions fielded during that year.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Smartphone dependency by income

% of U.S. adults who are smartphone dependent, by annual household income

  Less than $30,000 $30,000- $49,999 $50,000- $74,999 $75,000+ Less than $30,000 (NPORS) $30,000- $69,999 (NPORS) $70,000- $99,999 (NPORS) $100,000+ (NPORS)
2013 12% 9% 5% 5%
2015 20% 15% 10% 6%
2016 21% 12% 10% 5%
2018 31% 22% 14% 9%
2019 26% 20% 10% 6%
2021 27% 19% 6% 6%
2023 28% 19% 9% 4%
Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2013-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. For more details on this shift, please read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2013-2023. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys containing broadband and smartphone questions fielded during that year.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Smartphone dependency by education

% of U.S. adults who are smartphone dependent, by education level

 Year Less than high school graduate High school graduate High school or less Some college College graduate
2013 14% 11% 8% 4%
2015 21% 17% 14% 6%
2016 27% 15% 12% 5%
2018 39% 22% 21% 10%
2019 32% 24% 16% 4%
2021     23% 15% 4%
2023 24% 13% 6%
Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2013-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. For more details on this shift, please read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. “High school or less” includes both “Less than high school graduate” and “High school graduate.” The 2021 and 2023 samples are too small to separate these two categories. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2013-2023. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys containing broadband and smartphone questions fielded during that year.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Smartphone dependency by community type

% of U.S. adults who are smartphone dependent, by community type

  Urban Suburban Rural
2013 9% 7% 9%
2015 15% 12% 15%
2016 12% 12% 14%
2018 22% 17% 17%
2019 17% 13% 20%
2021 16% 12% 17%
2023 17% 11% 18%
Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2013-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was conducted via web and mail. For more details on this shift, please read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on how question wording varied over the years. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2013-2023. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys containing broadband and smartphone questions fielded during that year.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Find out more

This fact sheet was compiled by Research Assistant Olivia Sidoti, with help from Research Analyst Risa Gelles-Watnick, Research Analyst Michelle Faverio, Digital Producer Sara Atske, Associate Information Graphics Designer Kaitlyn Radde and Temporary Researcher Eugenie Park.

Follow these links for more in-depth analysis of the impact of mobile technology on American life.

Find more reports and blog posts related to internet and technology.

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