Mobile phone subscriptions in Tanzania
Tanzania: Mobile phone subscriptions was 86.77 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Tanzania, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in Tanzania stood at 86.77 million. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 23.6% on the previous year and up 172.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Tanzania peaked at 86.77 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Tanzania ranks 22nd of 212 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Tanzania, 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 | 371 | — |
| 1995 | 3,500 | +843.4% |
| 1996 | 9,038 | +158.2% |
| 1997 | 20,200 | +123.5% |
| 1998 | 37,940 | +87.8% |
| 1999 | 50,950 | +34.3% |
| 2000 | 110,518 | +116.9% |
| 2001 | 275,560 | +149.3% |
| 2002 | 606,859 | +120.2% |
| 2003 | 1.30 million | +113.9% |
| 2004 | 1.94 million | +49.6% |
| 2005 | 2.96 million | +52.6% |
| 2006 | 5.61 million | +89.2% |
| 2007 | 8.25 million | +47.1% |
| 2008 | 13.01 million | +57.6% |
| 2009 | 17.47 million | +34.3% |
| 2010 | 20.98 million | +20.1% |
| 2011 | 25.67 million | +22.3% |
| 2012 | 27.22 million | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 27.44 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 31.86 million | +16.1% |
| 2015 | 39.67 million | +24.5% |
| 2016 | 40.04 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 39.95 million | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 43.50 million | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 47.69 million | +9.6% |
| 2020 | 51.22 million | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 54.04 million | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 60.19 million | +11.4% |
| 2023 | 70.22 million | +16.7% |
| 2024 | 86.77 million | +23.6% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 86.77 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 7.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 86.77 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 6.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Tanzania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +843.4% | 371 | 3,500 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,200 | 0 | 50,950 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.15 million | 110,518 | 17.47 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.40 million | 20.98 million | 47.69 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.49 million | 51.22 million | 86.77 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More science & technology data for Tanzania
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 126.56 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.27 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0011 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 86.77 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 79.27 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 20.07 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 23.58 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 1,453 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Tanzania?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Tanzania was 86.77 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 86.77 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Tanzania rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Tanzania ranks 22nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 172.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania 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).