Mobile phone subscriptions in Uganda
Uganda: Mobile phone subscriptions was 41.60 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Uganda, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, mobile phone subscriptions in Uganda stood at 41.60 million. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 12.0% on the previous year and up 104.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Uganda peaked at 41.60 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Uganda 41st out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Uganda, 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 | 1,747 | — |
| 1996 | 4,000 | +129.0% |
| 1997 | 5,000 | +25.0% |
| 1998 | 30,000 | +500.0% |
| 1999 | 56,358 | +87.9% |
| 2000 | 126,913 | +125.2% |
| 2001 | 283,520 | +123.4% |
| 2002 | 393,310 | +38.7% |
| 2003 | 776,169 | +97.3% |
| 2004 | 1.17 million | +50.1% |
| 2005 | 1.32 million | +12.9% |
| 2006 | 2.01 million | +52.7% |
| 2007 | 4.20 million | +108.8% |
| 2008 | 8.55 million | +103.9% |
| 2009 | 9.38 million | +9.7% |
| 2010 | 12.83 million | +36.7% |
| 2011 | 16.70 million | +30.2% |
| 2012 | 16.36 million | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 18.07 million | +10.5% |
| 2014 | 20.37 million | +12.7% |
| 2015 | 20.22 million | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 22.84 million | +12.9% |
| 2017 | 24.95 million | +9.2% |
| 2018 | 24.47 million | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 25.40 million | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 27.69 million | +9.0% |
| 2021 | 30.13 million | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 33.19 million | +10.1% |
| 2023 | 37.12 million | +11.9% |
| 2024 | 41.60 million | +12.0% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 41.60 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 15.00 million, 2.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 41.60 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 3.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Uganda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +500.0% | 5,000 | 30,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 9,710 | 0 | 56,358 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.82 million | 126,913 | 9.38 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.22 million | 12.83 million | 25.40 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.94 million | 27.69 million | 41.60 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More science & technology data for Uganda
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 83.17 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.8317 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 41.60 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 185.14 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 12.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 1,424 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Uganda?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Uganda was 41.60 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 41.60 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Uganda rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Uganda ranks 41st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 104.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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).