Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of the population that owns a mobile phone was 48.4% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Afghanistan, 2016–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 48.4% for share of the population that owns a mobile phone in 2024. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Afghanistan peaked at 48.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 41.2%, in 2021.
Afghanistan ranks 176th of 182 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 46.8% | — |
| 2021 | 41.2% | -12.0% |
| 2022 | 47.5% | +15.3% |
| 2023 | 47.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 48.4% | +1.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 48.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 53.8%, 90% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 48.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 92.7%, 52% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 46.8% | 46.8% | 46.8% | 1 |
| 2020s | 46.1% | 41.2% | 48.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 173 Ethiopia 52.7% compare
- 174 Rwanda 51.5% compare
- 175 Sierra Leone 50.3% compare
- 177 Papua New Guinea 48.1% compare
- 178 Zambia 47.4% compare
- 179 Madagascar 44.4% compare
More science & technology data for Afghanistan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 60.1 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.601 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0014 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 25.63 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 35.31 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 11.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 168.85 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Afghanistan?
- Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Afghanistan was 48.4% in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population that owns a mobile phone recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 48.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the population that owns a mobile phone recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.2% in 2021.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of the population that owns a mobile phone?
- Afghanistan ranks 176th out of 182 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population that owns a mobile phone rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population that owns a mobile phone. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex (%).