Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers was 14.96 million in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
14.96 million
Change on year
up 92.7%
World rank
13th
of 53 countries
All-time high
14.96 million
in 2011
All-time low
8,636
in 1960
Years of data
40
1960–2011

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

05.0M10.0M15.0M1960198520111960: 8.6k1965: 17.0k1970: 33.0k1975: 45.2k1976: 52.1k1977: 57.2k1978: 59.3k1979: 61.2k1980: 64.1k1981: 68.8k1982: 74.6k1983: 83.8k1984: 89.8k1985: 95.6k1986: 103.2k1987: 106.1k1988: 106.0k1989: 115.8k1990: 125.4k1991: 133.1k1992: 127.0k1993: 132.5k1994: 137.7k1995: 142.5k1996: 148.7k1997: 156.5k1998: 164.1k1999: 201.2k2000: 249.7k2001: 311.2k2002: 404.2k2003: 456.1k2004: 639.9k2005: 1.0M2006: 1.6M2007: 2.1M2008: 2.9M2009: 5.0M2010: 7.8M2011: 15.0M

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

Analysis

Ethiopia recorded 14.96 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 92.7% on the previous year and up 4,706.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Ethiopia peaked at 14.96 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 8,636, in 1960.

That places Ethiopia 13th out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the top quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Ethiopia, 1960 to 2011.
Year Value Change
1960 8,636
1965 17,000 +96.9%
1970 33,000 +94.1%
1975 45,250 +37.1%
1976 52,100 +15.1%
1977 57,190 +9.8%
1978 59,326 +3.7%
1979 61,165 +3.1%
1980 64,065 +4.7%
1981 68,792 +7.4%
1982 74,562 +8.4%
1983 83,798 +12.4%
1984 89,844 +7.2%
1985 95,573 +6.4%
1986 103,186 +8.0%
1987 106,131 +2.9%
1988 105,985 -0.1%
1989 115,843 +9.3%
1990 125,398 +8.2%
1991 133,091 +6.1%
1992 127,041 -4.5%
1993 132,478 +4.3%
1994 137,731 +4.0%
1995 142,452 +3.4%
1996 148,739 +4.4%
1997 156,538 +5.2%
1998 164,140 +4.9%
1999 201,234 +22.6%
2000 249,702 +24.1%
2001 311,183 +24.6%
2002 404,185 +29.9%
2003 456,114 +12.8%
2004 639,902 +40.3%
2005 1.02 million +59.6%
2006 1.59 million +55.9%
2007 2.09 million +31.2%
2008 2.85 million +36.5%
2009 4.97 million +74.2%
2010 7.76 million +56.3%
2011 14.96 million +92.7%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

  • Ethiopia's 14.96 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.31 million, 3.5× the median. (20 countries reporting)
  • Ethiopia's 14.96 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.13 million, 3.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Ethiopia 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 +96.9% 8,636 17,000
1970 +94.1% 17,000 33,000
2011 +92.7% 7.76 million 14.96 million
2009 +74.2% 2.85 million 4.97 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 12,818 8,636 17,000 2
1970s 51,338 33,000 61,165 6
1980s 90,778 64,065 115,843 10
1990s 146,884 125,398 201,234 10
2000s 1.46 million 249,702 4.97 million 10
2010s 11.36 million 7.76 million 14.96 million 2

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 10 Cote d'Ivoire 17.61 million compare
  2. 11 Uganda 17.16 million compare
  3. 12 Democratic Republic of Congo 15.70 million compare
  4. 14 Tunisia 13.61 million compare
  5. 15 Cameroon 11.16 million compare
  6. 16 Libya 11.00 million compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More infrastructure data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Ethiopia?
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Ethiopia was 14.96 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 Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 14.96 million in 2011.
What is the lowest mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 8,636 in 1960.
How does Ethiopia rank for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers?
Ethiopia ranks 13th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
Is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 4,706.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/mobile-and-fixed-line-telephone-subscribers/ethiopia/

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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.