Mobile phone subscriptions in Cameroon
Cameroon: Mobile phone subscriptions was 31.52 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Cameroon, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Cameroon recorded 31.52 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 15.1% on the previous year and up 85.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Cameroon peaked at 31.52 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Cameroon 46th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 1,600 | — |
| 1995 | 2,800 | +75.0% |
| 1996 | 3,500 | +25.0% |
| 1997 | 4,200 | +20.0% |
| 1998 | 5,000 | +19.0% |
| 1999 | 6,000 | +20.0% |
| 2000 | 103,279 | +1621.3% |
| 2001 | 417,295 | +304.0% |
| 2002 | 701,507 | +68.1% |
| 2003 | 1.08 million | +53.5% |
| 2004 | 1.53 million | +42.1% |
| 2005 | 2.25 million | +47.1% |
| 2006 | 3.14 million | +39.2% |
| 2007 | 4.54 million | +44.6% |
| 2008 | 6.16 million | +35.8% |
| 2009 | 8.00 million | +29.9% |
| 2010 | 8.64 million | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 10.49 million | +21.4% |
| 2012 | 13.11 million | +25.0% |
| 2013 | 15.66 million | +19.5% |
| 2014 | 17.04 million | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 18.16 million | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 18.72 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 20.14 million | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 18.46 million | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 21.40 million | +16.0% |
| 2020 | 22.35 million | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 21.75 million | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 24.82 million | +14.1% |
| 2023 | 27.37 million | +10.3% |
| 2024 | 31.52 million | +15.1% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 31.52 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 2.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 31.52 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Cameroon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +1621.3% | 6,000 | 103,279 |
| 2001 | +304.0% | 103,279 | 417,295 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,310 | 0 | 6,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.79 million | 103,279 | 8.00 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.18 million | 8.64 million | 21.40 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.56 million | 21.75 million | 31.52 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More science & technology data for Cameroon
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 108.21 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.08 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 31.52 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 57.91 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 12.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 15.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 1,547 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Cameroon?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Cameroon was 31.52 million in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 31.52 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Cameroon rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Cameroon ranks 46th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 85.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon 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 Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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