Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people in South Africa
South Africa: Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people was 5.35 per 100 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people in South Africa, 2002–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 100 people.
Analysis
In 2024, landline internet subscriptions per 100 people in South Africa stood at 5.35 per 100 people. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 57.0% on the previous year and up 74.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, landline internet subscriptions per 100 people in South Africa peaked at 5.35 per 100 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0056 per 100 people, in 2002.
South Africa ranks 136th of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 100 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0.0056 per 100 people | — |
| 2003 | 0.0419 per 100 people | +653.5% |
| 2004 | 0.1225 per 100 people | +192.4% |
| 2005 | 0.334 per 100 people | +172.7% |
| 2006 | 0.6702 per 100 people | +100.7% |
| 2007 | 0.7481 per 100 people | +11.6% |
| 2008 | 0.8334 per 100 people | +11.4% |
| 2009 | 0.9299 per 100 people | +11.6% |
| 2010 | 1.42 per 100 people | +52.7% |
| 2011 | 1.71 per 100 people | +20.6% |
| 2012 | 2.06 per 100 people | +20.3% |
| 2013 | 2.95 per 100 people | +43.5% |
| 2014 | 3.07 per 100 people | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 2.48 per 100 people | -19.0% |
| 2016 | 2.01 per 100 people | -19.1% |
| 2017 | 1.95 per 100 people | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 1.89 per 100 people | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 2.1 per 100 people | +11.1% |
| 2020 | 2.15 per 100 people | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 2.76 per 100 people | +28.1% |
| 2022 | 3.12 per 100 people | +13.3% |
| 2023 | 3.41 per 100 people | +9.1% |
| 2024 | 5.35 per 100 people | +57.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.35 per 100 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.1 per 100 people, 35% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.35 per 100 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5939 per 100 people, 9.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +653.5% | 0.0056 per 100 people | 0.0419 per 100 people |
| 2004 | +192.4% | 0.0419 per 100 people | 0.1225 per 100 people |
| 2005 | +172.7% | 0.1225 per 100 people | 0.334 per 100 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.4607 per 100 people | 0.0056 per 100 people | 0.9299 per 100 people | 8 |
| 2010s | 2.16 per 100 people | 1.42 per 100 people | 3.07 per 100 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.36 per 100 people | 2.15 per 100 people | 5.35 per 100 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More science & technology data for South Africa
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 179.34 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 89.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 8,549 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 8,549 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is landline internet subscriptions per 100 people in South Africa?
- Landline internet subscriptions per 100 people in South Africa was 5.35 per 100 people in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest landline internet subscriptions per 100 people recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.35 per 100 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest landline internet subscriptions per 100 people recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0056 per 100 people in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for landline internet subscriptions per 100 people?
- South Africa ranks 136th out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is landline internet subscriptions per 100 people rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Subscriptions to fixed access to the public Internet with a download speed of at least 256 kbit/s.