Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of the population that owns a mobile phone was 52.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Ethiopia, 2015–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Ethiopia is 52.7%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Ethiopia peaked at 58.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 44.6%, in 2019.
Ethiopia ranks 173rd of 182 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 50.0% | — |
| 2016 | 58.3% | +16.6% |
| 2019 | 44.6% | -23.5% |
| 2020 | 44.7% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 45.2% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 49.6% | +9.7% |
| 2023 | 51.2% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 52.7% | +2.9% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 52.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 53.8%, 98% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 52.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.1%, 76% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 51.0% | 44.6% | 58.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 48.7% | 44.7% | 52.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 170 Solomon Islands 58.6% compare
- 171 Malawi 57.2% compare
- 172 Liberia 54.8% compare
- 174 Rwanda 51.5% compare
- 175 Sierra Leone 50.3% compare
- 176 Afghanistan 48.4% compare
More science & technology data for Ethiopia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 65.08 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.6508 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 85.95 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 68.28 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 8.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 11.54 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 6,728 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Ethiopia?
- Share of the population that owns a mobile phone in Ethiopia was 52.7% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 58.3% in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of the population that owns a mobile phone recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.6% in 2019.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of the population that owns a mobile phone?
- Ethiopia ranks 173rd out of 182 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population that owns a mobile phone rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 (%).