Mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Mobile phone subscriptions was 85.95 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
85.95 million
Change on year
up 11.5%
World rank
23rd
of 212 countries
All-time high
85.95 million
in 2024
All-time low
0
in 1980
Years of data
44
1980–2024
Mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 85.95 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.5% on the previous year and up 181.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia peaked at 85.95 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Ethiopia 23rd 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 Ethiopia, 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 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 6,740 | — |
| 2000 | 17,757 | +163.5% |
| 2001 | 27,500 | +54.9% |
| 2002 | 50,369 | +83.2% |
| 2003 | 51,324 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 155,534 | +203.0% |
| 2005 | 410,630 | +164.0% |
| 2006 | 866,700 | +111.1% |
| 2007 | 1.21 million | +39.4% |
| 2008 | 1.95 million | +61.7% |
| 2009 | 4.05 million | +107.3% |
| 2010 | 6.85 million | +69.2% |
| 2011 | 14.13 million | +106.1% |
| 2012 | 20.52 million | +45.3% |
| 2013 | 25.65 million | +25.0% |
| 2014 | 30.49 million | +18.9% |
| 2015 | 42.31 million | +38.8% |
| 2016 | 51.22 million | +21.1% |
| 2017 | 39.60 million | -22.7% |
| 2019 | 41.92 million | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 44.50 million | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 64.50 million | +44.9% |
| 2022 | 71.42 million | +10.7% |
| 2023 | 77.05 million | +7.9% |
| 2024 | 85.95 million | +11.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 85.95 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 15.00 million, 5.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 85.95 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 6.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 674 | 0 | 6,740 | 10 |
| 2000s | 879,454 | 17,757 | 4.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.30 million | 6.85 million | 51.22 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 68.69 million | 44.50 million | 85.95 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More science & technology data for Ethiopia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 65.08 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.6508 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 85.95 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 68.28 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 8.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 11.54 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 6,728 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia was 85.95 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 85.95 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Ethiopia rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Ethiopia ranks 23rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 181.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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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