Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in South Africa

South Africa: Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony was 99.8% in 2007. ▲ Rising

Latest (2007)
99.8%
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
4th
of 40 countries
All-time high
99.8%
in 2007
All-time low
80.0%
in 1996
Years of data
12
1996–2007

Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in South Africa, 1996–2007

0204060801001996200120071996: 80 %1997: 80 %1998: 80 %1999: 80 %2000: 92 %2001: 93 %2002: 95.1 %2003: 96 %2004: 96 %2005: 96 %2006: 97.1 %2007: 99.8 %

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 99.8% for population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in 2007. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.

The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 24.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in South Africa peaked at 99.8% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 80.0%, in 1996.

South Africa ranks 4th of 40 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.

Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%) in South Africa, 1996 to 2007.
Year % Change
1996 80.0%
1997 80.0% +0.0%
1998 80.0% +0.0%
1999 80.0% +0.0%
2000 92.0% +15.0%
2001 93.0% +1.1%
2002 95.1% +2.3%
2003 96.0% +0.9%
2004 96.0% +0.0%
2005 96.0% +0.0%
2006 97.1% +1.1%
2007 99.8% +2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 80.0% 80.0% 80.0% 4
2000s 95.6% 92.0% 99.8% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Namibia 100.0% compare
  2. 1 Tunisia 100.0% compare
  3. 1 Uganda 100.0% compare
  4. 5 Egypt 99.7%
  5. 6 Benin 99.0% compare
  6. 6 Mauritius 99.0% compare
  7. 6 Morocco 99.0% compare

See the full ranking of 46 places →

More science & technology data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in South Africa?
Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in South Africa was 99.8% in 2007, 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 South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 99.8% in 2007.
What is the lowest population coverage of mobile cellular telephony recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 80.0% in 1996.
How does South Africa rank for population coverage of mobile cellular telephony?
South Africa ranks 4th out of 40 countries with data for 2007.
Is population coverage of mobile cellular telephony rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 24.7%. 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 Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/population-coverage-of-mobile-cellular-telephony-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%)
Unit
%
Source
International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
46 places, 484 data points, 1991–2011
Last refreshed

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.