Mobile phone subscriptions in Namibia
Namibia: Mobile phone subscriptions was 2.58 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.58 million
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
144th
of 212 countries
All-time high
2.92 million
in 2021
All-time low
0
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Mobile phone subscriptions in Namibia, 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 Namibia is 2.58 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Namibia peaked at 2.92 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Namibia 144th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Namibia, 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 | 3,500 | — |
| 1996 | 6,644 | +89.8% |
| 1997 | 12,500 | +88.1% |
| 1998 | 19,500 | +56.0% |
| 1999 | 30,000 | +53.8% |
| 2000 | 82,000 | +173.3% |
| 2001 | 106,600 | +30.0% |
| 2002 | 150,000 | +40.7% |
| 2003 | 223,671 | +49.1% |
| 2004 | 286,095 | +27.9% |
| 2005 | 448,857 | +56.9% |
| 2006 | 608,846 | +35.6% |
| 2007 | 800,270 | +31.4% |
| 2008 | 1.05 million | +31.5% |
| 2009 | 1.63 million | +55.1% |
| 2010 | 1.95 million | +19.5% |
| 2011 | 2.19 million | +12.5% |
| 2012 | 2.15 million | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 2.73 million | +27.1% |
| 2014 | 2.67 million | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 2.55 million | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 2.66 million | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 2.68 million | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 2.76 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 2.82 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 2.90 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 2.92 million | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 2.91 million | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 2.60 million | -10.6% |
| 2024 | 2.58 million | -0.7% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 2.58 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 21% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 2.58 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 19% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,214 | 0 | 30,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 538,992 | 82,000 | 1.63 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.52 million | 1.95 million | 2.82 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.78 million | 2.58 million | 2.92 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More science & technology data for Namibia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 85.16 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.8517 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 2.58 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 3.16 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -2.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.6667 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 231.33 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Namibia?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Namibia was 2.58 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.92 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Namibia rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Namibia ranks 144th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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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