As of late 2023, over 75% of adults in the U.S. lived in households that no longer have a landline, based on the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About 76% of adults and 86.8% of children reside in “wireless-only” households, which the CDC defines as those with a wireless phone but no landline.
The CDC’s National Health Interview Survey, which is conducted every two years, has been monitoring the percentage of Americans who still maintain their landline phones for over twenty years. During this period, the extensive growth of wireless networks and advancements in smartphone technology have encouraged more people to go without a traditional landline.
Not surprisingly, the number of adults who only have a landline has also decreased significantly. In the most recent survey from 2023, only about 2% of adults relied solely on a landline.
Who are the cord-cutters?
Among adults aged 30 to 34, 90% have switched to wireless-only. The trend shows a decline in the percentage of landline users as the age demographic gets older.
Gender differences in landline ownership are slight, with 75.5% of men and 74.8% of women being more likely to be wireless-only.
Survey data from various states revealed that the Northeast has a lower rate of wireless-only homes.
