Mobile phone subscriptions in Kenya
Kenya: Mobile phone subscriptions was 71.38 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Kenya, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile phone subscriptions in Kenya is 71.38 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.9% on the previous year and up 112.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Kenya peaked at 71.38 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Kenya 27th 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 Kenya, 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 | 1,100 | — |
| 1993 | 1,162 | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 1,990 | +71.3% |
| 1995 | 2,279 | +14.5% |
| 1996 | 2,826 | +24.0% |
| 1997 | 6,767 | +139.5% |
| 1998 | 10,756 | +58.9% |
| 1999 | 23,757 | +120.9% |
| 2000 | 127,404 | +436.3% |
| 2001 | 600,000 | +370.9% |
| 2002 | 1.19 million | +97.9% |
| 2003 | 1.59 million | +34.0% |
| 2004 | 2.55 million | +60.1% |
| 2005 | 4.61 million | +81.1% |
| 2006 | 7.34 million | +59.2% |
| 2007 | 11.35 million | +54.6% |
| 2008 | 16.30 million | +43.7% |
| 2009 | 19.36 million | +18.8% |
| 2010 | 24.97 million | +28.9% |
| 2011 | 28.08 million | +12.5% |
| 2012 | 30.73 million | +9.4% |
| 2013 | 31.83 million | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 33.63 million | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 37.72 million | +12.1% |
| 2016 | 38.98 million | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 42.82 million | +9.8% |
| 2018 | 49.50 million | +15.6% |
| 2019 | 54.56 million | +10.2% |
| 2020 | 61.41 million | +12.6% |
| 2021 | 65.09 million | +6.0% |
| 2022 | 65.74 million | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 66.75 million | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 71.38 million | +6.9% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 71.38 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 5.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 71.38 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 5.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Kenya 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 | +436.3% | 23,757 | 127,404 |
| 2001 | +370.9% | 127,404 | 600,000 |
| 1997 | +139.5% | 2,826 | 6,767 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,064 | 0 | 23,757 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.50 million | 127,404 | 19.36 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.28 million | 24.97 million | 54.56 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.07 million | 61.41 million | 71.38 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More science & technology data for Kenya
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 126.48 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.26 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 71.38 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 114.91 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 6.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 2,079 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Kenya?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Kenya was 71.38 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 71.38 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Kenya rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Kenya ranks 27th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 112.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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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CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).