Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Botswana

Botswana: Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers was 3.05 million in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
3.05 million
Change on year
up 22.0%
World rank
34th
of 53 countries
All-time high
3.05 million
in 2011
All-time low
400
in 1960
Years of data
40
1960–2011

Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Botswana, 1960–2011

01.0M2.0M3.0M1960198520111960: 4001965: 1.2k1970: 2.3k1975: 4.7k1976: 5.0k1977: 5.5k1978: 5.9k1979: 6.4k1980: 7.1k1981: 7.8k1982: 8.5k1983: 9.5k1984: 10.1k1985: 10.6k1986: 11.8k1987: 14.6k1988: 18.2k1989: 22.2k1990: 26.4k1991: 32.6k1992: 36.5k1993: 43.5k1994: 50.4k1995: 59.7k1996: 72.2k1997: 85.6k1998: 117.2k1999: 215.8k2000: 358.1k2001: 480.4k2002: 480.4k2003: 576.4k2004: 654.6k2005: 700.2k2006: 955.1k2007: 1.3M2008: 1.6M2009: 2.0M2010: 2.5M2011: 3.0M

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

Analysis

Botswana recorded 3.05 million for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in 2011. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.

The figure is up 22.0% on the previous year and up 534.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Botswana peaked at 3.05 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 400, in 1960.

That places Botswana 34th out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Botswana, 1960 to 2011.
Year Value Change
1960 400
1965 1,200 +200.0%
1970 2,300 +91.7%
1975 4,700 +104.3%
1976 5,000 +6.4%
1977 5,500 +10.0%
1978 5,900 +7.3%
1979 6,400 +8.5%
1980 7,128 +11.4%
1981 7,812 +9.6%
1982 8,486 +8.6%
1983 9,459 +11.5%
1984 10,079 +6.6%
1985 10,576 +4.9%
1986 11,751 +11.1%
1987 14,591 +24.2%
1988 18,215 +24.8%
1989 22,195 +21.9%
1990 26,367 +18.8%
1991 32,607 +23.7%
1992 36,477 +11.9%
1993 43,487 +19.2%
1994 50,447 +16.0%
1995 59,673 +18.3%
1996 72,189 +21.0%
1997 85,592 +18.6%
1998 117,206 +36.9%
1999 215,819 +84.1%
2000 358,090 +65.9%
2001 480,419 +34.2%
2002 480,419 +0.0%
2003 576,377 +20.0%
2004 654,614 +13.6%
2005 700,245 +7.0%
2006 955,104 +36.4%
2007 1.29 million +34.9%
2008 1.63 million +26.3%
2009 2.01 million +23.6%
2010 2.50 million +24.3%
2011 3.05 million +22.0%

Botswana compared with similar countries

  • Botswana's 3.05 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.44 million, 1.3× the median. (8 countries reporting)
  • Botswana's 3.05 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.13 million, 74% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Botswana 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.

YearChange FromTo
1965 +200.0% 400 1,200
1975 +104.3% 2,300 4,700
1970 +91.7% 1,200 2,300

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 800 400 1,200 2
1970s 4,967 2,300 6,400 6
1980s 12,029 7,128 22,195 10
1990s 73,986 26,367 215,819 10
2000s 913,357 358,090 2.01 million 10
2010s 2.78 million 2.50 million 3.05 million 2

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 31 Chad 3.70 million compare
  2. 32 Mauritania 3.39 million compare
  3. 33 Togo 3.34 million compare
  4. 35 Namibia 2.40 million compare
  5. 36 Liberia 2.03 million compare
  6. 37 Sierra Leone 2.01 million compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More infrastructure data for Botswana

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Botswana?
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Botswana was 3.05 million in 2011, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database.
What is the highest mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers recorded in Botswana?
The highest recorded value was 3.05 million in 2011.
What is the lowest mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers recorded in Botswana?
The lowest recorded value was 400 in 1960.
How does Botswana rank for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers?
Botswana ranks 34th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
Is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is up 534.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Botswana data come from?
The figures come from International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database, published as part of Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/mobile-and-fixed-line-telephone-subscribers/botswana/

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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.