Telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers in Africa
Africa: Telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers was 652.53 per 1,000 people in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers in Africa, 1960–2011
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2011, telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers in Africa stood at 652.53 per 1,000 people. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.6% on the previous year and up 1,059.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers in Africa peaked at 652.53 per 1,000 people in 2011 and was at its lowest, 5.57 per 1,000 people, in 1960.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers in Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.57 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1970 | 6.58 per 1,000 people | +18.0% |
| 1975 | 7.4 per 1,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1976 | 7.39 per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 7.77 per 1,000 people | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 8.4 per 1,000 people | +8.1% |
| 1979 | 8.85 per 1,000 people | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 9.3 per 1,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 8.14 per 1,000 people | -12.4% |
| 1982 | 8.59 per 1,000 people | +5.5% |
| 1983 | 9.13 per 1,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1984 | 9.38 per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 10.23 per 1,000 people | +9.0% |
| 1986 | 11.01 per 1,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1987 | 11.34 per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 11.86 per 1,000 people | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 12.63 per 1,000 people | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 13.48 per 1,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 14.17 per 1,000 people | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 14.71 per 1,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 15.59 per 1,000 people | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 16.94 per 1,000 people | +8.7% |
| 1995 | 18.22 per 1,000 people | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 19.99 per 1,000 people | +9.7% |
| 1997 | 22.84 per 1,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1998 | 26.96 per 1,000 people | +18.0% |
| 1999 | 32.96 per 1,000 people | +22.3% |
| 2000 | 43.4 per 1,000 people | +31.7% |
| 2001 | 56.27 per 1,000 people | +29.6% |
| 2002 | 71.02 per 1,000 people | +26.2% |
| 2003 | 89.5 per 1,000 people | +26.0% |
| 2004 | 121.78 per 1,000 people | +36.1% |
| 2005 | 184.24 per 1,000 people | +51.3% |
| 2006 | 253.41 per 1,000 people | +37.5% |
| 2007 | 323.99 per 1,000 people | +27.9% |
| 2008 | 414.42 per 1,000 people | +27.9% |
| 2009 | 487.04 per 1,000 people | +17.5% |
| 2010 | 569.27 per 1,000 people | +16.9% |
| 2011 | 652.53 per 1,000 people | +14.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.57 per 1,000 people | 5.57 per 1,000 people | 5.57 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1970s | 7.73 per 1,000 people | 6.58 per 1,000 people | 8.85 per 1,000 people | 6 |
| 1980s | 10.16 per 1,000 people | 8.14 per 1,000 people | 12.63 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.59 per 1,000 people | 13.48 per 1,000 people | 32.96 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 204.51 per 1,000 people | 43.4 per 1,000 people | 487.04 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 610.9 per 1,000 people | 569.27 per 1,000 people | 652.53 per 1,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 1 Seychelles 1,797 per 1,000 people compare
- 2 Libya 1,713 per 1,000 people compare
- 3 Botswana 1,502 per 1,000 people compare
- 4 South Africa 1,347 per 1,000 people compare
- 5 Mauritius 1,298 per 1,000 people compare
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)
- Revenue from mobile communication 25.95 billion current US$ (2011)
- Mobile cellular postpaid connection charge 2.21 current US$ (2009)
Frequently asked questions
- What is telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers in Africa?
- Telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers in Africa was 652.53 per 1,000 people in 2011, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.
- What is the highest telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 652.53 per 1,000 people in 2011.
- What is the lowest telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.57 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does Africa rank for telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers?
- Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,059.6%. 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 Telephone (mainlines and mobile phone) subscribers (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Please cite the International Telecommunication Union for third-party use of these data. Fixed lines are telephone mainlines connecting a customer's equipment to the public switched telephone network. Mobile phone subscribers refer to users of portable telephones subscribing to an automatic public mobile telephone service using cellular technology that provides access to the public switched telephone network.