North Africa vs South Africa: Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers

North Africa
195.75 million
in 2011
South Africa
68.13 million
in 2011
North Africa rank
6th
South Africa rank
3rd

Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers over time

  • North Africa
  • South Africa
050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M196019852011

How they compare

North Africa currently reports 195.75 million against 68.13 million in South Africa, a difference of 127.62 million.

That makes North Africa's figure about 2.9 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 38 shared years of data; in 1960 it was South Africa ahead.

North Africa ranks 6th and South Africa ranks 3rd of 6 groups.

Across the 6 decades both report, North Africa averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade North Africa South Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 333,838 650,013 316,175 South Africa
1970s 723,838 1.25 million 528,996 South Africa
1980s 1.99 million 2.38 million 382,883 South Africa
1990s 6.00 million 5.33 million 669,502 North Africa
2000s 66.56 million 32.49 million 34.07 million North Africa
2010s 186.09 million 61.36 million 124.73 million North Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers, North Africa or South Africa?
North Africa, at 195.75 million against 68.13 million in South Africa as of 2011.
What is the difference in mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers between North Africa and South Africa?
127.62 million, with North Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for North Africa and South Africa?
38 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2011.
How do North Africa and South Africa rank globally for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers?
North Africa ranks 6th and South Africa ranks 3rd of 6 groups.
Where does this data come from?
International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database, published as Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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North Africa vs South Africa: Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers. Statizoid, drawing on International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/compare/mobile-and-fixed-line-telephone-subscribers/north-africa/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers
Source
International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
59 places, 2,189 data points, 1960–2011
Last refreshed

International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database.