Public payphones in Africa
Africa: Public payphones was 40,726 per 1,000 people in 2007. ◆ Volatile
Public payphones in Africa, 1990–2007
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
Africa recorded 40,726 per 1,000 people for public payphones in 2007.
The figure is down 8.1% on the previous year and up 281.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public payphones in Africa peaked at 44,298 per 1,000 people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 4,607 per 1,000 people, in 1990.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Public payphones in Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4,607 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1991 | 4,932 per 1,000 people | +7.0% |
| 1992 | 5,096 per 1,000 people | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 6,085 per 1,000 people | +19.4% |
| 1994 | 5,610 per 1,000 people | -7.8% |
| 1995 | 6,205 per 1,000 people | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 10,064 per 1,000 people | +62.2% |
| 1997 | 10,680 per 1,000 people | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 12,694 per 1,000 people | +18.9% |
| 1999 | 15,280 per 1,000 people | +20.4% |
| 2000 | 17,692 per 1,000 people | +15.8% |
| 2001 | 22,039 per 1,000 people | +24.6% |
| 2002 | 24,059 per 1,000 people | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 40,850 per 1,000 people | +69.8% |
| 2006 | 44,298 per 1,000 people | +8.4% |
| 2007 | 40,726 per 1,000 people | -8.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8,125 per 1,000 people | 4,607 per 1,000 people | 15,280 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 31,611 per 1,000 people | 17,692 per 1,000 people | 44,298 per 1,000 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More science & technology data for Africa
- Proportion of individuals using the Internet 41.8% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 2G mobile network 94.9% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 3G mobile network 90.2% (2025)
- Proportion of population covered by at least a 4G mobile network 77.6% (2025)
- Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex 69.4% (2024)
- Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a 54.9% (2024)
- Mobile phone subscribers 623.58 per 1,000 people (2011)
- Telephone mainlines 28.95 per 1,000 people (2011)
- Telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers 652.53 per 1,000 people (2011)
- Revenue from mobile communication 25.95 billion current US$ (2011)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public payphones in Africa?
- Public payphones in Africa was 40,726 per 1,000 people in 2007, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.
- What is the highest public payphones recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 44,298 per 1,000 people in 2006.
- What is the lowest public payphones recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,607 per 1,000 people in 1990.
- How does Africa rank for public payphones?
- Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2007.
- Is public payphones rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 281.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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 Public payphones (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Please cite the International Telecommunication Union for third-party use of these data. Total number of all types of public telephones, including coin- and card-operated and public telephones in call offices. Publicly available phones installed in private places should also be included, as should mobile public telephones. All public telephones regardless of capability (e.g., local calls or national only) should be counted. If the national definition of "payphone" differs from that above (e.g., by excluding pay phones in private places), then respondents should indicate their own definition.