Mobile phone subscriptions in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Mobile phone subscriptions was 147,061 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Sao Tome and Principe, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded 147,061 for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 196,384 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 184th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Sao Tome and Principe, 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 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 1,980 | — |
| 2003 | 4,819 | +143.4% |
| 2004 | 7,745 | +60.7% |
| 2005 | 11,953 | +54.3% |
| 2006 | 18,424 | +54.1% |
| 2007 | 30,099 | +63.4% |
| 2008 | 50,551 | +67.9% |
| 2009 | 80,829 | +59.9% |
| 2010 | 102,730 | +27.1% |
| 2011 | 115,038 | +12.0% |
| 2012 | 122,172 | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 125,329 | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 128,500 | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 184,971 | +43.9% |
| 2016 | 178,047 | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 173,963 | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 162,610 | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 165,761 | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 174,203 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 189,239 | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 196,384 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 146,497 | -25.4% |
| 2024 | 147,061 | +0.4% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 147,061 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 1% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 147,061 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 1% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Sao Tome and Principe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +143.4% | 1,980 | 4,819 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 20,640 | 0 | 80,829 | 10 |
| 2010s | 145,912 | 102,730 | 184,971 | 10 |
| 2020s | 170,677 | 146,497 | 196,384 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More science & technology data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 62.44 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.6244 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 147,061 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 152.6 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.385 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 4.71 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Sao Tome and Principe was 147,061 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 196,384 in 2022.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 184th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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
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