Telephone mainlines in Africa
Africa: Telephone mainlines was 28.95 per 1,000 people in 2011. β Volatile
Telephone mainlines in Africa, 1960β2011
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 in Africa stood at 28.95 per 1,000 people.
That represents a change of down 6.3% on the previous year and up 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, telephone mainlines in Africa peaked at 33.14 per 1,000 people in 2008 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.
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 | 12.62 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.45 per 1,000 people | 13.46 per 1,000 people | 23.42 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.54 per 1,000 people | 24.22 per 1,000 people | 33.14 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.91 per 1,000 people | 28.95 per 1,000 people | 30.88 per 1,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 1 Seychelles 324.56 per 1,000 people compare
- 2 Mauritius 291.28 per 1,000 people compare
- 3 Libya 155.7 per 1,000 people compare
- 4 Cabo Verde 148.83 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 and mobile phone) subscribers 652.53 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 in Africa?
- Telephone mainlines in Africa was 28.95 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 recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.14 per 1,000 people in 2008.
- What is the lowest telephone mainlines recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.57 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- How does Africa rank for telephone mainlines?
- Africa ranks 1st out of 2 regions with data for 2011.
- Is telephone mainlines rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.8%. 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 (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 39 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. Telephone mainlines are fixed telephone lines connecting a subscriber to the telephone exchange equipment.