Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%) in Zambia
Zambia: Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%) was 62.0% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Zambia, 1997–2011
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2011, population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Zambia stood at 62.0%.
That represents a change of down 31.1% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Zambia peaked at 90.0% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1997.
That places Zambia 34th out of 40 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0.1% | — |
| 1998 | 20.1% | +40180.0% |
| 1999 | 28.9% | +43.4% |
| 2000 | 50.5% | +74.9% |
| 2001 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 65.0% | +28.7% |
| 2006 | 46.0% | -29.2% |
| 2007 | 78.0% | +69.6% |
| 2008 | 85.0% | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 90.0% | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 90.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 62.0% | -31.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 62.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 90.0%, 69% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 62.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 85.0%, 73% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony (%) in Zambia 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 | +40180.0% | 0.1% | 20.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.4% | 0.1% | 28.9% | 3 |
| 2000s | 61.6% | 46.0% | 90.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.0% | 62.0% | 90.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 33 Zimbabwe 72.4% compare
- 35 Burkina Faso 61.1% compare
- 36 Cameroon 58.0% compare
- 37 Central African Republic 56.0% compare
More science & technology data for Zambia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 108.7 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.09 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 23.17 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 28.45 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 6.51 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 9.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 14 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 14 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Zambia?
- Population coverage of mobile cellular telephony in Zambia was 62.0% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 90.0% in 2009.
- What is the lowest population coverage of mobile cellular telephony recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1997.
- How does Zambia rank for population coverage of mobile cellular telephony?
- Zambia ranks 34th out of 40 countries with data for 2011.
- Is population coverage of mobile cellular telephony rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia 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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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.