Mobile phone subscriptions in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Mobile phone subscriptions was 63.96 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 63.96 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of up 13.7% on the previous year and up 72.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 63.96 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 29th of 212 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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 | — |
| 1995 | 8,500 | — |
| 1996 | 7,200 | -15.3% |
| 1997 | 8,900 | +23.6% |
| 1998 | 10,000 | +12.4% |
| 1999 | 12,000 | +20.0% |
| 2000 | 15,000 | +25.0% |
| 2001 | 150,000 | +900.0% |
| 2002 | 560,000 | +273.3% |
| 2003 | 1.25 million | +122.5% |
| 2004 | 1.99 million | +59.7% |
| 2005 | 2.75 million | +37.9% |
| 2006 | 4.42 million | +60.8% |
| 2007 | 6.59 million | +49.3% |
| 2008 | 9.94 million | +50.8% |
| 2009 | 9.46 million | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 11.82 million | +25.0% |
| 2011 | 15.64 million | +32.4% |
| 2012 | 20.09 million | +28.4% |
| 2013 | 28.23 million | +40.5% |
| 2014 | 37.10 million | +31.4% |
| 2015 | 37.75 million | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 28.89 million | -23.5% |
| 2017 | 35.38 million | +22.5% |
| 2018 | 36.47 million | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 37.12 million | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 40.80 million | +9.9% |
| 2021 | 46.89 million | +14.9% |
| 2022 | 49.84 million | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 56.27 million | +12.9% |
| 2024 | 63.96 million | +13.7% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 63.96 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 15.00 million, 4.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 63.96 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 4.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +900.0% | 15,000 | 150,000 |
| 2002 | +273.3% | 150,000 | 560,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,657 | 0 | 12,000 | 7 |
| 2000s | 3.71 million | 15,000 | 9.94 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.85 million | 11.82 million | 37.75 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.55 million | 40.80 million | 63.96 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More science & technology data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 58.53 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.5853 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 63.96 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 24.82 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 10.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 13.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 243.06 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Democratic Republic of Congo was 63.96 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 63.96 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 29th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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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