Proportion of population covered by at least a 3G mobile network in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Proportion of population covered by at least a 3G mobile network was 99.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of population covered by at least a 3G mobile network in Southern Africa, 2015–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Southern Africa recorded 99.3% for proportion of population covered by at least a 3g mobile network in 2025. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population covered by at least a 3g mobile network in Southern Africa peaked at 99.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 94.2%, in 2015.
Southern Africa ranks 8th of 35 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Proportion of population covered by at least a 3G mobile network in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 94.2% | — |
| 2016 | 94.4% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 96.0% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 97.3% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 98.1% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 99.0% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 99.2% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 99.2% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 99.1% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 99.2% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 99.3% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 96.0% | 94.2% | 98.1% | 5 |
| 2020s | 99.2% | 99.0% | 99.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 7 Timor-Leste 96.5% compare
More science & technology data for Southern Africa
- Proportion of individuals using the Internet 77.2% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 2G mobile network 99.8% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 4G mobile network 98.7% (2025)
- Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex 86.3% (2024)
- Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a 79.4% (2024)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 5G mobile network 58.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population covered by at least a 3g mobile network in Southern Africa?
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 3g mobile network in Southern Africa was 99.3% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population covered by at least a 3g mobile network recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 99.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest proportion of population covered by at least a 3g mobile network recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 94.2% in 2015.
- How does Southern Africa rank for proportion of population covered by at least a 3g mobile network?
- Southern Africa ranks 8th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of population covered by at least a 3g mobile network rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population covered by at least a 3G mobile network (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).