Residential monthly telephone subscription (current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Residential monthly telephone subscription (current US$) was 5.96 current US$ in 2011. ▲ Rising
Residential monthly telephone subscription in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2011
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 5.96 current US$ for residential monthly telephone subscription in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 78.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, residential monthly telephone subscription in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 6.4 current US$ in 2008 and was at its lowest, 3.34 current US$, in 2001.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Residential monthly telephone subscription (current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.88 current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 4.29 current US$ | +10.6% |
| 1992 | 4.9 current US$ | +14.0% |
| 1993 | 5.01 current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 4.03 current US$ | -19.6% |
| 1995 | 4.03 current US$ | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 4.5 current US$ | +11.5% |
| 1997 | 3.77 current US$ | -16.1% |
| 1998 | 3.62 current US$ | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 3.4 current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 3.38 current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 3.34 current US$ | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 3.68 current US$ | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 4.84 current US$ | +31.5% |
| 2004 | 5.34 current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2005 | 5.33 current US$ | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 5.49 current US$ | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 6.16 current US$ | +12.1% |
| 2008 | 6.4 current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 5.82 current US$ | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 5.66 current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 5.96 current US$ | +5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.14 current US$ | 3.4 current US$ | 5.01 current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.98 current US$ | 3.34 current US$ | 6.4 current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.81 current US$ | 5.66 current US$ | 5.96 current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Gabon 31.62 current US$ compare
- 2 Cameroon 21.19 current US$ compare
- 3 South Africa 19.28 current US$ compare
- 4 Cote d'Ivoire 15 current US$ compare
More science & technology data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 9,805 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 9,805 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, per capita 0 units per person (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, per square kilometre 0.0005 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 48,022 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per square kilometre 0.002 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Digital connectivity composite index -1.24 standard deviations from the yearly mean (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is residential monthly telephone subscription in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Residential monthly telephone subscription in Sub-Saharan Africa was 5.96 current US$ in 2011, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.
- What is the highest residential monthly telephone subscription recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4 current US$ in 2008.
- What is the lowest residential monthly telephone subscription recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.34 current US$ in 2001.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for residential monthly telephone subscription?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 1st out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is residential monthly telephone subscription rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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 Residential monthly telephone subscription (current US$). 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. Monthly subscription refers to the recurring fixed charge for subscribing to the PSTN. The charge should cover the rental of the line, but not the rental of the terminal (e.g., telephone set) where the terminal equipment market is liberalized. Separate charges should be stated where appropriate, for first and subsequent lines. If the rental charge includes any allowance for free or reduced rate call units, this should be indicated. If there are different charges for different exchange areas, the largest urban area should be used and specified in a note. This indicator is expressed in US dollars.