Amateur Radio Operators by Country 2026

Amateur radio operators, known as "hams," must obtain licenses by passing exams on regulations, electronics, and operation. Over three million licensed operators exist globally, primarily in the United States, Japan, and parts of Europe and Asia. High percentages of licensed operators are in Slovenia, Denmark, and Canada, while Yemen and North Korea prohibit amateur radio. The number of operators fluctuates, with about 750,000 in the U.S., and tracking active operators remains complex. Global counts (by IARU) ceased in 2000, making recent figures based on national data, showing both regional declines and growth, notably in China and the U.S.

Table 1: Licensed operators per country, originally based on Wikipedia.
The numbers listed below were improved by independent research.

Many websites display out-of-date information about valid license holders, some dating back more than 25 years. For example, in Japan, licenses are awarded for life, resulting in a total of over 1.3 million, but this number does not include "active" amateurs. Licenses in the United States are valid for ten years and may not be renewed, resulting in the reallocation of call signs. Furthermore, some countries do not share their recorded data.

What does an "active amateur" mean? Is an active amateur someone who operates once a week, once a month, once a year, or at special events? Is an active amateur only someone who has a license and is allowed to operate? These are all simple questions that do not have clear answers.

Factors Influencing Numbers:
* Hobby Popularity: Ham radio remains popular due to modern tech and personal communication.
* Data Collection: Counting active users is challenging due to license renewal policies and varied participation.

References