Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Africa

South Africa: Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita was 1.79 units per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.79 units per person
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
10th
of 212 countries
All-time high
1.79 units per person
in 2024
All-time low
0 units per person
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Africa, 1980–2024

00.511.521980200220241980: 0 units per person1981: 0 units per person1982: 0 units per person1983: 0 units per person1984: 0 units per person1985: 0 units per person1986: 0 units per person1987: 0 units per person1988: 0 units per person1989: 0 units per person1990: 0 units per person1991: 0 units per person1992: 0 units per person1993: 0.001 units per person1994: 0.008 units per person1995: 0.012 units per person1996: 0.021 units per person1997: 0.04 units per person1998: 0.072 units per person1999: 0.111 units per person2000: 0.177 units per person2001: 0.227 units per person2002: 0.285 units per person2003: 0.348 units per person2004: 0.425 units per person2005: 0.686 units per person2006: 0.793 units per person2007: 0.837 units per person2008: 0.88 units per person2009: 0.898 units per person2010: 0.962 units per person2011: 1.2 units per person2012: 1.3 units per person2013: 1.4 units per person2014: 1.4 units per person2015: 1.6 units per person2016: 1.4 units per person2017: 1.5 units per person2018: 1.6 units per person2019: 1.6 units per person2020: 1.6 units per person2021: 1.6 units per person2022: 1.6 units per person2023: 1.7 units per person2024: 1.8 units per person

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.

Analysis

The most recent figure for mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Africa is 1.79 units per person, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 25.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Africa peaked at 1.79 units per person in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 units per person, in 1980.

South Africa ranks 10th of 212 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0 units per person 0 units per person 0.0001 units per person 10
1990s 0.0266 units per person 0.0001 units per person 0.111 units per person 10
2000s 0.5557 units per person 0.1768 units per person 0.8977 units per person 10
2010s 1.4 units per person 0.9623 units per person 1.63 units per person 10
2020s 1.67 units per person 1.58 units per person 1.79 units per person 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 7 Libya 1.93 units per person compare
  2. 8 Russia 1.88 units per person compare
  3. 9 Côte d'Ivoire 1.84 units per person compare
  4. 11 Japan 1.78 units per person compare
  5. 12 El Salvador 1.77 units per person compare
  6. 13 Mauritius 1.76 units per person compare

See the full ranking of 212 places →

More science & technology data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Africa?
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Africa was 1.79 units per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.79 units per person in 2024.
What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0 units per person in 1980.
How does South Africa rank for mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita?
South Africa ranks 10th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
Is mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 19 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/mobile-cellular-subscriptions-by-country-per-capita/south-africa/

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<a href="https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/mobile-cellular-subscriptions-by-country-per-capita/south-africa/">Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Mobile cellular subscriptions by country divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.

Mobile cellular subscriptions by country ÷ Population, total

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita
Unit
units per person
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
212 places, 9,009 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed

Mobile cellular subscriptions by country divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.