Mobile phone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Mobile phone subscribers was 539.3 per 1,000 people in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2011
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile phone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa is 539.3 per 1,000 people, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
The figure is up 17.8% on the previous year and up 2,041.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 539.3 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 in Sub-Saharan 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 | 0.0081 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1990 | 0.0156 per 1,000 people | +92.6% |
| 1991 | 0.0184 per 1,000 people | +18.5% |
| 1992 | 0.0351 per 1,000 people | +90.4% |
| 1993 | 0.1162 per 1,000 people | +231.0% |
| 1994 | 0.7131 per 1,000 people | +513.8% |
| 1995 | 1.04 per 1,000 people | +45.4% |
| 1996 | 1.82 per 1,000 people | +75.4% |
| 1997 | 3.43 per 1,000 people | +88.7% |
| 1998 | 6.17 per 1,000 people | +79.9% |
| 1999 | 10.05 per 1,000 people | +62.8% |
| 2000 | 17.34 per 1,000 people | +72.5% |
| 2001 | 25.18 per 1,000 people | +45.2% |
| 2002 | 36.16 per 1,000 people | +43.6% |
| 2003 | 50.16 per 1,000 people | +38.7% |
| 2004 | 74.85 per 1,000 people | +49.2% |
| 2005 | 121.75 per 1,000 people | +62.7% |
| 2006 | 179.99 per 1,000 people | +47.8% |
| 2007 | 235.37 per 1,000 people | +30.8% |
| 2008 | 324.44 per 1,000 people | +37.8% |
| 2009 | 384.5 per 1,000 people | +18.5% |
| 2010 | 457.76 per 1,000 people | +19.1% |
| 2011 | 539.3 per 1,000 people | +17.8% |
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 | 0.0008 per 1,000 people | 0 per 1,000 people | 0.0081 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.34 per 1,000 people | 0.0156 per 1,000 people | 10.05 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 144.97 per 1,000 people | 17.34 per 1,000 people | 384.5 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 498.53 per 1,000 people | 457.76 per 1,000 people | 539.3 per 1,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More science & technology data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Scientific and technical journal articles 48,022 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per square kilometre 0.002 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Digital connectivity composite index -1.24 standard deviations from the yearly mean (2025)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, annual growth rate -0.2159 % change on previous year (2023)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 8,160 (2020)
- Patent applications, residents 1,834 (2020)
- Proportion of individuals using the Internet 35.7% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 2G mobile network 94.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Mobile phone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa was 539.3 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 539.3 per 1,000 people in 2011.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscribers recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for mobile phone subscribers?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is mobile phone subscribers rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,041.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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.