The present invention discloses a method for recounting the number of the UE in a multimedia broadcast/multicast service. When a radio access network prepares to initiate a recounting procedure, perform the steps of: the RAN sending recounting indication information for an MBMS service to User Equipment (UE) or UEs; the UE detecting the recounting indication information and responding to the recounting indication information by establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection or initiating a cell update procedure according to the recounting indication information and received MBMS access information; the RAN counting the number of UE(s) which have joined the MBMS service and are within a cell according to the state of the UEs respectively. The application of the present invention will make the recounting result more accurate, thus the selection of MBMS bearer mode by UTRAN based on the recounting result is more appropriate.