Fixed telephone subscriptions in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Fixed telephone subscriptions was 2.00 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Fixed telephone subscriptions in Africa Western and Central, 1960–2025
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
The most recent figure for fixed telephone subscriptions in Africa Western and Central is 2.00 million, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fixed telephone subscriptions in Africa Western and Central peaked at 3.74 million in 2009 and was at its lowest, 42,041, in 1960.
That places Africa Western and Central 45th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fixed telephone subscriptions in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 42,041 | — |
| 1961 | 42,041 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 42,041 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 42,041 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 42,041 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 74,713 | +77.7% |
| 1967 | 74,713 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 74,713 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 74,713 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 101,339 | +35.6% |
| 1972 | 101,339 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 101,339 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 101,339 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 375,001 | +270.0% |
| 1982 | 378,510 | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 424,576 | +12.2% |
| 1984 | 449,098 | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 471,369 | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 501,106 | +6.3% |
| 1987 | 529,050 | +5.6% |
| 1988 | 554,849 | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 592,908 | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 659,797 | +11.3% |
| 1991 | 692,452 | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 764,375 | +10.4% |
| 1993 | 823,937 | +7.8% |
| 1994 | 899,859 | +9.2% |
| 1995 | 1.00 million | +11.3% |
| 1996 | 1.09 million | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 1.18 million | +8.4% |
| 1998 | 1.34 million | +13.5% |
| 1999 | 1.53 million | +13.5% |
| 2000 | 1.79 million | +17.5% |
| 2001 | 2.00 million | +11.3% |
| 2002 | 2.18 million | +9.5% |
| 2003 | 2.31 million | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 2.56 million | +10.6% |
| 2005 | 2.81 million | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 3.39 million | +20.6% |
| 2007 | 3.41 million | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 3.21 million | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 3.74 million | +16.5% |
| 2010 | 3.37 million | -10.0% |
| 2011 | 3.16 million | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 2.94 million | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 2.93 million | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 3.06 million | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 2.90 million | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 2.90 million | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.70 million | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 2.60 million | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 2.40 million | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 3.00 million | +25.0% |
| 2021 | 3.00 million | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.00 million | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.00 million | -33.3% |
| 2024 | 2.00 million | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2.00 million | +0.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fixed telephone subscriptions in Africa Western and Central changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +270.0% | 101,339 | 375,001 |
| 1966 | +77.7% | 42,041 | 74,713 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 56,562 | 42,041 | 74,713 | 9 |
| 1970s | 101,339 | 101,339 | 101,339 | 4 |
| 1980s | 475,163 | 375,001 | 592,908 | 9 |
| 1990s | 998,796 | 659,797 | 1.53 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.74 million | 1.79 million | 3.74 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.90 million | 2.40 million | 3.37 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.50 million | 2.00 million | 3.00 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More infrastructure data for Africa Western and Central
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 462.00 million (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 86.5 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 0.3 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0038 units per person (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 2.00 million (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 0.8671 units per person (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 462.00 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fixed telephone subscriptions in Africa Western and Central?
- Fixed telephone subscriptions in Africa Western and Central was 2.00 million in 2025, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 3.74 million in 2009.
- What is the lowest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 42,041 in 1960.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for fixed telephone subscriptions?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 45th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is fixed telephone subscriptions rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Fixed telephone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fixed telephone subscriptions refers to the sum of active number of analogue fixed telephone lines, voice-over-IP (VoIP) subscriptions, fixed wireless local loop (WLL) subscriptions, ISDN voice-channel equivalents and fixed public payphones.