Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Kenya

Kenya: Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers was 28.36 million in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
28.36 million
Change on year
up 11.9%
World rank
6th
of 53 countries
All-time high
28.36 million
in 2011
All-time low
28,000
in 1965
Years of data
39
1965–2011

Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Kenya, 1965–2011

010.0M20.0M30.0M1965198820111965: 28.0k1970: 39.0k1975: 53.0k1976: 57.0k1977: 62.4k1978: 65.3k1979: 69.7k1980: 73.9k1981: 80.2k1982: 88.1k1983: 95.7k1984: 106.1k1985: 118.4k1986: 129.5k1987: 137.5k1988: 152.0k1989: 162.9k1990: 175.1k1991: 200.0k1992: 208.5k1993: 215.9k1994: 230.5k1995: 258.7k1996: 269.6k1997: 278.6k1998: 299.0k1999: 313.8k2000: 419.1k2001: 909.4k2002: 1.5M2003: 1.9M2004: 2.8M2005: 4.9M2006: 7.6M2007: 11.8M2008: 16.9M2009: 20.0M2010: 25.3M2011: 28.4M

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

Analysis

In 2011, mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Kenya stood at 28.36 million. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.

That represents a change of up 11.9% on the previous year and up 3,019.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Kenya peaked at 28.36 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 28,000, in 1965.

Kenya ranks 6th of 53 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

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

Annual values for Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Kenya, 1965 to 2011.
Year Value Change
1965 28,000
1970 39,000 +39.3%
1975 53,000 +35.9%
1976 57,000 +7.5%
1977 62,400 +9.5%
1978 65,300 +4.6%
1979 69,700 +6.7%
1980 73,900 +6.0%
1981 80,200 +8.5%
1982 88,100 +9.9%
1983 95,700 +8.6%
1984 106,100 +10.9%
1985 118,361 +11.6%
1986 129,453 +9.4%
1987 137,505 +6.2%
1988 151,964 +10.5%
1989 162,894 +7.2%
1990 175,050 +7.5%
1991 200,000 +14.3%
1992 208,542 +4.3%
1993 215,921 +3.5%
1994 230,512 +6.8%
1995 258,713 +12.2%
1996 269,606 +4.2%
1997 278,583 +3.3%
1998 299,007 +7.3%
1999 313,757 +4.9%
2000 419,110 +33.6%
2001 909,379 +117.0%
2002 1.51 million +65.9%
2003 1.92 million +27.2%
2004 2.85 million +48.3%
2005 4.90 million +72.2%
2006 7.63 million +55.8%
2007 11.81 million +54.8%
2008 16.95 million +43.5%
2009 20.03 million +18.2%
2010 25.35 million +26.6%
2011 28.36 million +11.9%

Kenya compared with similar countries

  • Kenya's 28.36 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.90 million, 3.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
  • Kenya's 28.36 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.13 million, 6.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Kenya 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
2001 +117.0% 419,110 909,379
2005 +72.2% 2.85 million 4.90 million
2002 +65.9% 909,379 1.51 million
2006 +55.8% 4.90 million 7.63 million
2007 +54.8% 7.63 million 11.81 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 28,000 28,000 28,000 1
1970s 57,733 39,000 69,700 6
1980s 114,418 73,900 162,894 10
1990s 244,969 175,050 313,757 10
2000s 6.89 million 419,110 20.03 million 10
2010s 26.86 million 25.35 million 28.36 million 2

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 3 South Africa 68.13 million compare
  2. 4 Morocco 40.12 million compare
  3. 5 Algeria 38.68 million compare
  4. 7 Tanzania 25.83 million compare
  5. 8 Sudan 25.54 million compare
  6. 9 Ghana 21.45 million compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More infrastructure data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Kenya?
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Kenya was 28.36 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 Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 28.36 million in 2011.
What is the lowest mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 28,000 in 1965.
How does Kenya rank for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers?
Kenya ranks 6th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
Is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is up 3,019.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Kenya 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 Kenya. 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/kenya/

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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.