Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network in Nigeria

Nigeria: Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network was 95.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
95.3%
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
171st
of 212 countries
All-time high
99.4%
in 2014
All-time low
38.0%
in 2002
Years of data
22
2002–2024

Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network in Nigeria, 2002–2024

0204060801002002201320242002: 38 %2003: 45 %2004: 55 %2005: 58 %2006: 60 %2008: 83 %2009: 90 %2010: 90 %2011: 68.5 %2012: 80.8 %2013: 91.2 %2014: 99.4 %2015: 92.1 %2016: 92.7 %2017: 92.7 %2018: 94.3 %2019: 89.8 %2020: 90.8 %2021: 92.9 %2022: 93.9 %2023: 94.1 %2024: 95.3 %

Source: International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network in Nigeria stood at 95.3%.

The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network in Nigeria peaked at 99.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 38.0%, in 2002.

Nigeria ranks 171st of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network in Nigeria, 2002 to 2024.
Year % Change
2002 38.0%
2003 45.0% +18.4%
2004 55.0% +22.2%
2005 58.0% +5.5%
2006 60.0% +3.4%
2008 83.0% +38.3%
2009 90.0% +8.4%
2010 90.0% +0.0%
2011 68.5% -23.9%
2012 80.8% +18.0%
2013 91.2% +12.7%
2014 99.4% +9.0%
2015 92.1% -7.3%
2016 92.7% +0.7%
2017 92.7% +0.0%
2018 94.3% +1.8%
2019 89.8% -4.8%
2020 90.8% +1.1%
2021 92.9% +2.3%
2022 93.9% +1.1%
2023 94.1% +0.3%
2024 95.3% +1.2%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 95.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 97.0%, 98% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 95.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 96.9%, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network in Nigeria 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.

YearChange FromTo
2008 +38.3% 60.0% 83.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 61.3% 38.0% 90.0% 7
2010s 89.2% 68.5% 99.4% 10
2020s 93.4% 90.8% 95.3% 5

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 168 Lesotho 95.8% compare
  2. 168 Peru 95.8% compare
  3. 170 Uruguay 95.4% compare
  4. 172 North Korea 95.1% compare
  5. 173 Costa Rica 95.0% compare
  6. 173 Solomon Islands 95.0% compare

See the full ranking of 212 places →

More science & technology data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network in Nigeria?
Share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network in Nigeria was 95.3% in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 99.4% in 2014.
What is the lowest share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 38.0% in 2002.
How does Nigeria rank for share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network?
Nigeria ranks 171st out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/population-covered-by-mobile-network-by-network-capability/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network
Unit
%
Source
International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
212 places, 3,813 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Proportion of population covered by at least a 2G mobile network (%).