Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in South Africa

South Africa: Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers was 68.13 million in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
68.13 million
Change on year
up 24.8%
World rank
3rd
of 53 countries
All-time high
68.13 million
in 2011
All-time low
650,013
in 1960
Years of data
40
1960–2011

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

020.0M40.0M60.0M1960198520111960: 650.0k1965: 755.0k1970: 916.0k1975: 1.2M1976: 1.2M1977: 1.3M1978: 1.4M1979: 1.5M1980: 1.6M1981: 1.8M1982: 1.9M1983: 2.1M1984: 2.2M1985: 2.3M1986: 2.5M1987: 2.7M1988: 2.9M1989: 3.1M1990: 3.3M1991: 3.4M1992: 3.5M1993: 3.6M1994: 4.1M1995: 4.5M1996: 5.2M1997: 6.5M1998: 8.4M1999: 10.7M2000: 13.3M2001: 15.7M2002: 18.5M2003: 21.7M2004: 25.7M2005: 38.7M2006: 44.3M2007: 46.8M2008: 49.4M2009: 50.8M2010: 54.6M2011: 68.1M

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in South Africa is 68.13 million, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.

That represents a change of up 24.8% on the previous year and up 333.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in South Africa peaked at 68.13 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 650,013, in 1960.

South Africa ranks 3rd 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 702,506 650,013 755,000 2
1970s 1.25 million 916,000 1.51 million 6
1980s 2.30 million 1.63 million 3.08 million 10
1990s 5.33 million 3.32 million 10.68 million 10
2000s 32.49 million 13.30 million 50.76 million 10
2010s 61.36 million 54.60 million 68.13 million 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Nigeria 95.89 million compare
  2. 2 Egypt 92.14 million compare
  3. 4 Morocco 40.12 million compare
  4. 5 Algeria 38.68 million compare
  5. 6 Kenya 28.36 million compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More infrastructure data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in South Africa?
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in South Africa was 68.13 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 South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 68.13 million in 2011.
What is the lowest mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 650,013 in 1960.
How does South Africa rank for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers?
South Africa ranks 3rd out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
Is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 333.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

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.