World telephone statistics

OF THE 37,098,084 telephones in service on January 1, 1937, approximately one-half, or 18,433,400, were in the United States, according to a survey recently compiled by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. By continents, there were 19,952,423 in North America, 13,513,152 in Europe, 1,690,978 in Asia, 840,880 in Australia and other Pacific Islands, 765,435 in South America and 335,216 in Africa. Of the total number of telephones in use about 93 per cent could be reached by a subscriber in the Bell System. Private companies operated 22,538,753 or 61 per cent and government systems the remainder. There were 18,300,000 automatic or dial telephones. Two American cities, Washington, D. C, and San Francisco, Calif., lead the world's urban service with 37.43 and 37.00 telephones per 100 inhabitants, respectively, followed by Stockholm, Sweden, with 34.78 and Denver, Colo., with 30.96.