GITNUXREPORT 2025

Nomophobia Statistics

Majority experience anxiety, dependence, and physical symptoms from smartphone reliance.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

45% of smartphone users check their devices within five minutes of waking up

Statistic 2

77% of college students check their phones every 15 minutes or less

Statistic 3

70% of users believe their smartphones help them feel more connected to friends and family

Statistic 4

The average individual unlocks their phone over 80 times a day

Statistic 5

60% of people would rather give up their wallet than their phone

Statistic 6

55% of smartphone users think their device is part of their identity

Statistic 7

80% of users say they use their mobile devices while driving, increasing risk of accidents

Statistic 8

54% of users admit to feeling “phantom vibration syndrome,” believing their phone is vibrating when it is not

Statistic 9

65% of people use their smartphones to cope with loneliness

Statistic 10

58% of respondents feel uncomfortable leaving their house without their smartphone

Statistic 11

Over 50% of students have missed classes or appointments to access their phones, indicating dependency

Statistic 12

33% of users have purchased items after seeing advertisements on their smartphones, showing influence of mobile on behavior

Statistic 13

72% of users check their phones immediately after waking up, often leading to increased anxiety

Statistic 14

49% of teenagers admit to feeling uncomfortable when not allowed to use their phones during school hours, indicating dependency

Statistic 15

58% of users experience “winner effect,” feeling more successful or validated when they receive notifications or likes, reinforcing dependency

Statistic 16

42% of respondents report experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches and eye strain linked to their phone use

Statistic 17

62% of teens check their phones during hours of sleep, leading to poor sleep quality

Statistic 18

40% of smartphone users sleep with their device in bed, increasing exposure to blue light and insomnia

Statistic 19

54% of students report disrupted sleep patterns due to late-night phone use, impacting academic performance

Statistic 20

38% of individuals have experienced physical discomfort such as neck pain or eye strain due to prolonged phone use, associated with nomophobia

Statistic 21

Approximately 66% of the global population suffers from nomophobia

Statistic 22

About 71% of young adults experience anxiety when they are unable to use their smartphones

Statistic 23

87% of teenagers report feeling anxious without their smartphones

Statistic 24

84% of respondents in a study said they would feel anxious if they lost their smartphones

Statistic 25

59% of people admit to feeling anxious when their phones are out of reach

Statistic 26

48% of mobile users feel anxious if they are not able to access their notifications immediately

Statistic 27

75% of job seekers check their smartphones during interviews, possibly indicating nomophobia

Statistic 28

68% of parents worry about their children’s excessive smartphone use and potential nomophobia

Statistic 29

66% of individuals feel more anxious when their battery drops below 10%

Statistic 30

59% of users believe that the constant presence of smartphones increases their stress levels

Statistic 31

29% of smartphone users report experiencing anxiety when they are unable to access their devices for more than an hour

Statistic 32

80% of smartphone users admit to experiencing “fear of missing out” (FOMO), contributing to nomophobia

Statistic 33

75% of adolescents feel unable to detach from their smartphones even during social gatherings

Statistic 34

39% of individuals have avoided social or professional events due to anxiety over being disconnected from their phones

Statistic 35

61% of users say their phone makes them feel more anxious in social situations

Statistic 36

83% of teens use their phones regularly for social media, which correlates with higher levels of nomophobia

Statistic 37

46% of adults worry that they are addicted to their smartphones, a key component of nomophobia

Statistic 38

68% of smartphone users report feeling anxious when they see their phone’s notification, even if they do not check it immediately

Statistic 39

77% of users have experienced irritability or frustration when they cannot access their phones, a symptom of nomophobia

Statistic 40

64% of parents are concerned about their children’s excessive smartphone use contributing to anxiety

Statistic 41

55% of users report feeling compelled to constantly check their phones, despite wanting to disconnect, indicating compulsive behavior

Statistic 42

76% of college students report feeling anxious when they do not have access to their phones for extended periods, showing dependence

Statistic 43

69% of people feel their smartphone usage interferes with face-to-face interactions, linked to social anxiety and nomophobia

Statistic 44

83% of teens access social media apps daily, which correlates with higher nomophobia levels

Statistic 45

66% of parents report that their children feel anxious if their devices are interrupted during homework, possibly indicating nomophobia

Statistic 46

84% of teenagers admit that their smartphone makes them more social, yet 43% report feeling lonely despite high connectivity

Statistic 47

52% of users have reduced their offline social interactions due to smartphone dependence, highlighting social detachment

Slide 1 of 47

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Approximately 66% of the global population suffers from nomophobia
About 71% of young adults experience anxiety when they are unable to use their smartphones
87% of teenagers report feeling anxious without their smartphones
45% of smartphone users check their devices within five minutes of waking up
84% of respondents in a study said they would feel anxious if they lost their smartphones
59% of people admit to feeling anxious when their phones are out of reach
77% of college students check their phones every 15 minutes or less
70% of users believe their smartphones help them feel more connected to friends and family
The average individual unlocks their phone over 80 times a day
60% of people would rather give up their wallet than their phone
55% of smartphone users think their device is part of their identity
42% of respondents report experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches and eye strain linked to their phone use
80% of users say they use their mobile devices while driving, increasing risk of accidents

Did you know that over two-thirds of the world’s population suffers from nomophobia, the insidious fear of being disconnected, with teenagers and young adults feeling anxious and dependent on their smartphones almost every minute of the day?

Device usage habits and behaviors

45% of smartphone users check their devices within five minutes of waking up
77% of college students check their phones every 15 minutes or less
70% of users believe their smartphones help them feel more connected to friends and family
The average individual unlocks their phone over 80 times a day
60% of people would rather give up their wallet than their phone
55% of smartphone users think their device is part of their identity
80% of users say they use their mobile devices while driving, increasing risk of accidents
54% of users admit to feeling “phantom vibration syndrome,” believing their phone is vibrating when it is not
65% of people use their smartphones to cope with loneliness
58% of respondents feel uncomfortable leaving their house without their smartphone
Over 50% of students have missed classes or appointments to access their phones, indicating dependency
33% of users have purchased items after seeing advertisements on their smartphones, showing influence of mobile on behavior
72% of users check their phones immediately after waking up, often leading to increased anxiety
49% of teenagers admit to feeling uncomfortable when not allowed to use their phones during school hours, indicating dependency
58% of users experience “winner effect,” feeling more successful or validated when they receive notifications or likes, reinforcing dependency

Device usage habits and behaviors Interpretation

These staggering Nomophobia statistics reveal a society increasingly tethered to screens—checking, craving, and even fearing the absence of our smartphones—highlighting both our digital interconnectedness and the urgent need to find balance before the device takes over our lives.

Impact of smartphones on sleep and physical health

42% of respondents report experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches and eye strain linked to their phone use
62% of teens check their phones during hours of sleep, leading to poor sleep quality
40% of smartphone users sleep with their device in bed, increasing exposure to blue light and insomnia
54% of students report disrupted sleep patterns due to late-night phone use, impacting academic performance
38% of individuals have experienced physical discomfort such as neck pain or eye strain due to prolonged phone use, associated with nomophobia

Impact of smartphones on sleep and physical health Interpretation

These alarming statistics underscore how nomophobia is not just a digital dilemma but a tangible health crisis, where our obsession with smartphones is subtly sabotaging our well-being, sleep, and productivity.

Mental health and anxiety related to smartphone and digital device usage

Approximately 66% of the global population suffers from nomophobia
About 71% of young adults experience anxiety when they are unable to use their smartphones
87% of teenagers report feeling anxious without their smartphones
84% of respondents in a study said they would feel anxious if they lost their smartphones
59% of people admit to feeling anxious when their phones are out of reach
48% of mobile users feel anxious if they are not able to access their notifications immediately
75% of job seekers check their smartphones during interviews, possibly indicating nomophobia
68% of parents worry about their children’s excessive smartphone use and potential nomophobia
66% of individuals feel more anxious when their battery drops below 10%
59% of users believe that the constant presence of smartphones increases their stress levels
29% of smartphone users report experiencing anxiety when they are unable to access their devices for more than an hour
80% of smartphone users admit to experiencing “fear of missing out” (FOMO), contributing to nomophobia
75% of adolescents feel unable to detach from their smartphones even during social gatherings
39% of individuals have avoided social or professional events due to anxiety over being disconnected from their phones
61% of users say their phone makes them feel more anxious in social situations
83% of teens use their phones regularly for social media, which correlates with higher levels of nomophobia
46% of adults worry that they are addicted to their smartphones, a key component of nomophobia
68% of smartphone users report feeling anxious when they see their phone’s notification, even if they do not check it immediately
77% of users have experienced irritability or frustration when they cannot access their phones, a symptom of nomophobia
64% of parents are concerned about their children’s excessive smartphone use contributing to anxiety
55% of users report feeling compelled to constantly check their phones, despite wanting to disconnect, indicating compulsive behavior
76% of college students report feeling anxious when they do not have access to their phones for extended periods, showing dependence
69% of people feel their smartphone usage interferes with face-to-face interactions, linked to social anxiety and nomophobia
83% of teens access social media apps daily, which correlates with higher nomophobia levels
66% of parents report that their children feel anxious if their devices are interrupted during homework, possibly indicating nomophobia

Mental health and anxiety related to smartphone and digital device usage Interpretation

With approximately two-thirds of the world battling nomophobia, it's clear that for many, a dead battery or lost signal isn't just inconvenient—it's a digital deprivation that fuels anxiety, turning smartphones from helpful tools into modern-day security blankets whose absence can leave us feeling disconnected and distressed.

Social media usage and its effects

84% of teenagers admit that their smartphone makes them more social, yet 43% report feeling lonely despite high connectivity
52% of users have reduced their offline social interactions due to smartphone dependence, highlighting social detachment

Social media usage and its effects Interpretation

Despite being more connected than ever, with 84% of teens claiming their smartphones boost their social life, the paradox is that 43% still feel lonely, and over half have cut back on face-to-face interactions, revealing that digital proximity often masks true social distance.