Mobile phone subscriptions in Somalia
Somalia: Mobile phone subscriptions was 9.91 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Somalia, 1980–2023
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, mobile phone subscriptions in Somalia stood at 9.91 million. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is up 12.0% on the previous year and up 91.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Somalia peaked at 9.91 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Somalia 94th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, 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 Somalia, 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 | 80,000 | — |
| 2001 | 85,000 | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 100,000 | +17.6% |
| 2003 | 200,000 | +100.0% |
| 2004 | 500,000 | +150.0% |
| 2005 | 500,000 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 550,000 | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 600,000 | +9.1% |
| 2008 | 627,000 | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 641,000 | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 648,200 | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 1.80 million | +177.7% |
| 2012 | 2.30 million | +27.8% |
| 2013 | 5.18 million | +125.3% |
| 2014 | 5.50 million | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 5.84 million | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 6.65 million | +14.0% |
| 2017 | 7.12 million | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 7.65 million | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 8.23 million | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 8.84 million | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 8.84 million | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 8.84 million | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 9.91 million | +12.0% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 9.91 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 15.00 million, 66% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 9.91 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 72% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Somalia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +177.7% | 648,200 | 1.80 million |
| 2004 | +150.0% | 200,000 | 500,000 |
| 2013 | +125.3% | 2.30 million | 5.18 million |
| 2003 | +100.0% | 100,000 | 200,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 388,300 | 80,000 | 641,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.09 million | 648,200 | 8.23 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.11 million | 8.84 million | 9.91 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More science & technology data for Somalia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 53.96 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.5396 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 9.91 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 15.79 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 8.61 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 12.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 151.88 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Somalia?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Somalia was 9.91 million in 2023, 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.91 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Somalia rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Somalia ranks 94th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 91.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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 — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).