Mobile phone subscriptions in Rwanda
Rwanda: Mobile phone subscriptions was 13.29 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda is 13.29 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 71.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Rwanda peaked at 13.29 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Rwanda 81st 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 Rwanda, 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 | 5,000 | — |
| 1999 | 11,000 | +120.0% |
| 2000 | 39,000 | +254.5% |
| 2001 | 65,000 | +66.7% |
| 2002 | 82,391 | +26.8% |
| 2003 | 130,720 | +58.7% |
| 2004 | 137,271 | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 222,978 | +62.4% |
| 2006 | 314,201 | +40.9% |
| 2007 | 635,137 | +102.1% |
| 2008 | 1.32 million | +108.2% |
| 2009 | 2.43 million | +83.7% |
| 2010 | 3.55 million | +46.1% |
| 2011 | 4.45 million | +25.3% |
| 2012 | 5.69 million | +28.0% |
| 2013 | 6.69 million | +17.5% |
| 2014 | 7.75 million | +15.8% |
| 2015 | 8.76 million | +13.1% |
| 2016 | 8.92 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 8.82 million | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 9.70 million | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 9.66 million | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 10.61 million | +9.9% |
| 2021 | 10.90 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 11.00 million | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 12.76 million | +16.0% |
| 2024 | 13.29 million | +4.1% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 13.29 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 15.00 million, 89% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 13.29 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Rwanda 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 | +254.5% | 11,000 | 39,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,600 | 0 | 11,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 537,859 | 39,000 | 2.43 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.40 million | 3.55 million | 9.70 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.71 million | 10.61 million | 13.29 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More science & technology data for Rwanda
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 93.2 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.932 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 13.29 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 517.35 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 4.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 433.51 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Rwanda?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Rwanda was 13.29 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 13.29 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Rwanda rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Rwanda ranks 81st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).