Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%) in Africa
Africa: Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%) was 84.8% in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Africa, 1991–2011
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Africa is 84.8%, measured in 2011.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 73.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Africa peaked at 86.3% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1991.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%) in Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | — |
| 1993 | 0.0% | — |
| 1994 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | — |
| 1996 | 16.0% | — |
| 1997 | 11.4% | -28.9% |
| 1998 | 36.4% | +219.5% |
| 1999 | 52.4% | +44.1% |
| 2000 | 51.1% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 48.8% | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 47.1% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 50.9% | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 59.7% | +17.3% |
| 2005 | 59.4% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 63.9% | +7.6% |
| 2007 | 76.9% | +20.3% |
| 2008 | 83.9% | +9.1% |
| 2009 | 84.8% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 86.3% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 84.8% | -1.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +219.5% | 11.4% | 36.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.9% | 0.0% | 52.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 62.6% | 47.1% | 84.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.5% | 84.8% | 86.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Africa
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)
- Mobile phone subscribers 623.58 per 1,000 people (2011)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Africa?
- Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Africa was 84.8% in 2011, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.
- What is the highest population coverage of mobile cellular telephony recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 86.3% in 2010.
- What is the lowest population coverage of mobile cellular telephony recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1991.
- How does Africa rank for population coverage of mobile cellular telephony?
- Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is population coverage of mobile cellular telephony rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 73.7%. 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 Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 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. Percentage of population covered by mobile cellular telephony refers to the percentage of a country’s inhabitants that live within areas served by a mobile cellular signal, irrespective of whether or not they choose to use it. This should not be confused with the percentage of the land area covered by a mobile cellular signal or the percentage of the population that subscribe to mobile cellular service. Note that this measures the theoretical ability to use mobile cellular services if one has a cellular telephone and a subscription.