Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network in South Africa
South Africa: Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network was 99.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network in South Africa is 99.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network in South Africa peaked at 100.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 92.0%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 72nd of 211 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 96.5% | 92.0% | 99.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 99.8% | 99.6% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.9% | 99.9% | 100.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More science & technology data for South Africa
- Scientific and technical journal articles 14,949 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 9,156 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 78.4% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 1,804 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.6% (2022)
- Number of people using the Internet 46.11 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 5.35 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network in South Africa?
- Share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network in South Africa was 99.9% in 2023, 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 92.0% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network?
- South Africa ranks 72nd out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population within range of a 2g, 3g, 4g, or 5g mobile network rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. 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 – 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proportion of population covered by at least a 2G mobile network (%)