Mobile phone subscriptions in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Mobile phone subscriptions was 15.68 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Zimbabwe, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 15.68 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 32.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Zimbabwe peaked at 15.68 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Zimbabwe 73rd 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 Zimbabwe, 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 | 5,734 | — |
| 1998 | 19,000 | +231.4% |
| 1999 | 174,000 | +815.8% |
| 2000 | 266,441 | +53.1% |
| 2001 | 314,002 | +17.9% |
| 2002 | 338,779 | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 363,651 | +7.3% |
| 2004 | 425,745 | +17.1% |
| 2005 | 647,110 | +52.0% |
| 2006 | 849,146 | +31.2% |
| 2007 | 1.23 million | +44.3% |
| 2008 | 1.65 million | +35.0% |
| 2009 | 3.99 million | +141.2% |
| 2010 | 7.70 million | +92.9% |
| 2011 | 9.20 million | +19.5% |
| 2012 | 12.61 million | +37.1% |
| 2013 | 13.63 million | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 11.80 million | -13.5% |
| 2015 | 12.76 million | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 12.88 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 14.09 million | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 12.91 million | -8.4% |
| 2019 | 13.20 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 13.19 million | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 14.26 million | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 14.30 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 14.97 million | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 15.68 million | +4.7% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 15.68 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 15.68 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Zimbabwe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +815.8% | 19,000 | 174,000 |
| 1998 | +231.4% | 5,734 | 19,000 |
| 2009 | +141.2% | 1.65 million | 3.99 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,873 | 0 | 174,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.01 million | 266,441 | 3.99 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.08 million | 7.70 million | 14.09 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.48 million | 13.19 million | 15.68 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More science & technology data for Zimbabwe
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 94.25 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.9425 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 15.68 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 38.71 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 2.85 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 4.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 519.85 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Zimbabwe?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Zimbabwe was 15.68 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 15.68 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Zimbabwe ranks 73rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.
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CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).