Number of radio sets in South Africa

South Africa: Number of radio sets was 11.29 million in 2002. ▲ Rising

Latest (2002)
11.29 million
Change on year
down 24.3%
World rank
7th
of 53 countries
All-time high
15.50 million
in 2000
All-time low
4.00 million
in 1970
Years of data
29
1970–2002

Number of radio sets in South Africa, 1970–2002

5.0M7.5M10.0M12.5M15.0M1970198620021970: 4.0M1975: 5.0M1976: 5.0M1977: 6.0M1978: 7.0M1979: 7.5M1980: 8.0M1981: 8.3M1982: 8.5M1983: 8.8M1984: 9.5M1985: 10.0M1986: 10.3M1987: 10.6M1988: 10.9M1989: 11.2M1990: 11.5M1991: 11.8M1992: 12.1M1993: 12.4M1994: 12.8M1995: 13.1M1996: 13.4M1997: 13.8M1998: 13.6M1999: 13.7M2000: 15.5M2001: 14.9M2002: 11.3M

Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 11.29 million for number of radio sets in 2002.

That represents a change of down 24.3% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of radio sets in South Africa peaked at 15.50 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.00 million, in 1970.

That places South Africa 7th out of 53 countries with data for 2002, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.

Number of radio sets in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Number of radio sets in South Africa, 1970 to 2002.
Year Value Change
1970 4.00 million
1975 5.00 million +25.0%
1976 5.00 million +0.0%
1977 6.00 million +20.0%
1978 7.00 million +16.7%
1979 7.50 million +7.1%
1980 8.00 million +6.7%
1981 8.30 million +3.8%
1982 8.50 million +2.4%
1983 8.80 million +3.5%
1984 9.50 million +8.0%
1985 10.00 million +5.3%
1986 10.30 million +3.0%
1987 10.55 million +2.4%
1988 10.90 million +3.3%
1989 11.20 million +2.8%
1990 11.50 million +2.7%
1991 11.75 million +2.2%
1992 12.10 million +3.0%
1993 12.45 million +2.9%
1994 12.75 million +2.4%
1995 13.10 million +2.7%
1996 13.40 million +2.3%
1997 13.75 million +2.6%
1998 13.60 million -1.1%
1999 13.70 million +0.7%
2000 15.50 million +13.1%
2001 14.90 million -3.9%
2002 11.29 million -24.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 5.75 million 4.00 million 7.50 million 6
1980s 9.61 million 8.00 million 11.20 million 10
1990s 12.81 million 11.50 million 13.75 million 10
2000s 13.90 million 11.29 million 15.50 million 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 4 Egypt 14.56 million compare
  2. 5 Tanzania, United Republic of 14.41 million compare
  3. 6 Ethiopia 12.00 million compare
  4. 8 Morocco 9.72 million compare
  5. 9 Algeria 7.20 million compare
  6. 10 Kenya 6.88 million compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More science & technology data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of radio sets in South Africa?
Number of radio sets in South Africa was 11.29 million in 2002, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.
What is the highest number of radio sets recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 15.50 million in 2000.
What is the lowest number of radio sets recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.00 million in 1970.
How does South Africa rank for number of radio sets?
South Africa ranks 7th out of 53 countries with data for 2002.
Is number of radio sets rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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 Number of radio sets. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of radio sets in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-radio-sets/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of radio sets
Source
International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
59 places, 1,603 data points, 1970–2008
Last refreshed

Please cite the International Telecommunication Union for third-party use of these data. The total number of radio sets. A radio set is a device capable of receiving broadcast radio signals, using popular frequencies, such as FM, AM, LW and SW. A radio set may be a stand-alone device, or it may be integrated into another device, such as a Walkman, a car or an alarm clock.