Mobile phone subscribers (per 1,000 people) in Africa
Africa: Mobile phone subscribers (per 1,000 people) was 623.58 per 1,000 people in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscribers in Africa, 1960–2011
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2011, mobile phone subscribers in Africa stood at 623.58 per 1,000 people. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 15.8% on the previous year and up 1,937.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscribers in Africa peaked at 623.58 per 1,000 people in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0 per 1,000 people, in 1960.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscribers (per 1,000 people) in Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1965 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1970 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1975 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1976 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1977 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1978 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1979 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1980 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1981 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1982 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1983 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1984 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1985 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1986 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1987 | 0.005 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1988 | 0.0059 per 1,000 people | +17.9% |
| 1989 | 0.0146 per 1,000 people | +146.6% |
| 1990 | 0.0227 per 1,000 people | +54.9% |
| 1991 | 0.0336 per 1,000 people | +48.2% |
| 1992 | 0.052 per 1,000 people | +54.8% |
| 1993 | 0.1254 per 1,000 people | +141.1% |
| 1994 | 0.6102 per 1,000 people | +386.5% |
| 1995 | 0.908 per 1,000 people | +48.8% |
| 1996 | 1.58 per 1,000 people | +73.9% |
| 1997 | 3.04 per 1,000 people | +92.5% |
| 1998 | 5.43 per 1,000 people | +78.7% |
| 1999 | 9.54 per 1,000 people | +75.6% |
| 2000 | 19.18 per 1,000 people | +101.1% |
| 2001 | 30.61 per 1,000 people | +59.6% |
| 2002 | 43.87 per 1,000 people | +43.3% |
| 2003 | 60.83 per 1,000 people | +38.6% |
| 2004 | 91.72 per 1,000 people | +50.8% |
| 2005 | 153.71 per 1,000 people | +67.6% |
| 2006 | 222 per 1,000 people | +44.4% |
| 2007 | 291.2 per 1,000 people | +31.2% |
| 2008 | 381.28 per 1,000 people | +30.9% |
| 2009 | 455.23 per 1,000 people | +19.4% |
| 2010 | 538.39 per 1,000 people | +18.3% |
| 2011 | 623.58 per 1,000 people | +15.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscribers (per 1,000 people) in Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +386.5% | 0.1254 per 1,000 people | 0.6102 per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 per 1,000 people | 0 per 1,000 people | 0 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 0 per 1,000 people | 0 per 1,000 people | 0 per 1,000 people | 6 |
| 1980s | 0.0026 per 1,000 people | 0 per 1,000 people | 0.0146 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.13 per 1,000 people | 0.0227 per 1,000 people | 9.54 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 174.96 per 1,000 people | 19.18 per 1,000 people | 455.23 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 580.99 per 1,000 people | 538.39 per 1,000 people | 623.58 per 1,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 1 Libya 1,557 per 1,000 people compare
- 2 Seychelles 1,472 per 1,000 people compare
- 3 Botswana 1,428 per 1,000 people compare
- 4 South Africa 1,265 per 1,000 people compare
- 5 Gabon 1,173 per 1,000 people compare
More science & technology data for Africa
- Proportion of individuals using the Internet 41.8% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 2G mobile network 94.9% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 3G mobile network 90.2% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 4G mobile network 77.6% (2025)
- Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex 69.4% (2024)
- Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a 54.9% (2024)
- Telephone mainlines 28.95 per 1,000 people (2011)
- Telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers 652.53 per 1,000 people (2011)
- Revenue from mobile communication 25.95 billion current US$ (2011)
- Mobile cellular postpaid connection charge 2.21 current US$ (2009)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscribers in Africa?
- Mobile phone subscribers in Africa was 623.58 per 1,000 people in 2011, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscribers recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 623.58 per 1,000 people in 2011.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscribers recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does Africa rank for mobile phone subscribers?
- Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is mobile phone subscribers rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,937.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates, published as part of Mobile phone subscribers (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Please cite the International Telecommunication Union for third-party use of these data. Mobile telephone subscribers are subscribers to a public mobile telephone service using cellular technology.