Mobile phone subscribers in South Africa
South Africa: Mobile phone subscribers was 1,265 per 1,000 people in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscribers in South 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 South Africa stood at 1,265 per 1,000 people. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.6% on the previous year and up 426.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscribers in South Africa peaked at 1,265 per 1,000 people in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0 per 1,000 people, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 4th of 53 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 subscribers in South 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 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1988 | 0 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1989 | 0.1154 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1990 | 0.1614 per 1,000 people | +39.8% |
| 1991 | 0.1976 per 1,000 people | +22.4% |
| 1992 | 0.341 per 1,000 people | +72.6% |
| 1993 | 1.07 per 1,000 people | +213.1% |
| 1994 | 8.88 per 1,000 people | +732.0% |
| 1995 | 13.68 per 1,000 people | +54.0% |
| 1996 | 23.82 per 1,000 people | +74.2% |
| 1997 | 44.86 per 1,000 people | +88.3% |
| 1998 | 79.64 per 1,000 people | +77.5% |
| 1999 | 120.87 per 1,000 people | +51.8% |
| 2000 | 189.52 per 1,000 people | +56.8% |
| 2001 | 240.19 per 1,000 people | +26.7% |
| 2002 | 300.92 per 1,000 people | +25.3% |
| 2003 | 365.6 per 1,000 people | +21.5% |
| 2004 | 446.57 per 1,000 people | +22.1% |
| 2005 | 719.51 per 1,000 people | +61.1% |
| 2006 | 830.95 per 1,000 people | +15.5% |
| 2007 | 876.55 per 1,000 people | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 922.26 per 1,000 people | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 941.52 per 1,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 1,008 per 1,000 people | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 1,265 per 1,000 people | +25.6% |
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 | 0.0115 per 1,000 people | 0 per 1,000 people | 0.1154 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.35 per 1,000 people | 0.1614 per 1,000 people | 120.87 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 583.36 per 1,000 people | 189.52 per 1,000 people | 941.52 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,136 per 1,000 people | 1,008 per 1,000 people | 1,265 per 1,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More science & technology data for South Africa
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 179.34 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 89.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 14,949 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscribers in South Africa?
- Mobile phone subscribers in South Africa was 1,265 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,265 per 1,000 people in 2011.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscribers recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for mobile phone subscribers?
- South Africa ranks 4th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is mobile phone subscribers rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 426.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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.
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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.