Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers was 478.05 million in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
478.05 million
Change on year
up 20.0%
Rank
3rd
of 6 groups
All-time high
478.05 million
in 2011
All-time low
844,742
in 1960
Years of data
39
1960–2011
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1960–2011
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) recorded 478.05 million for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in 2011. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of up 20.0% on the previous year and up 1,696.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 478.05 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 844,742, in 1960.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 844,742 | — |
| 1970 | 1.34 million | +59.1% |
| 1975 | 1.70 million | +26.8% |
| 1976 | 1.83 million | +7.3% |
| 1977 | 1.94 million | +5.9% |
| 1978 | 2.04 million | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 2.20 million | +7.7% |
| 1980 | 2.37 million | +8.1% |
| 1981 | 2.78 million | +17.0% |
| 1982 | 2.98 million | +7.3% |
| 1983 | 3.20 million | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 3.35 million | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 3.56 million | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 3.88 million | +8.8% |
| 1987 | 4.10 million | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 4.37 million | +6.7% |
| 1989 | 4.69 million | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 5.05 million | +7.7% |
| 1991 | 5.29 million | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 5.43 million | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 5.73 million | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 6.38 million | +11.3% |
| 1995 | 7.06 million | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 8.03 million | +13.7% |
| 1997 | 9.66 million | +20.4% |
| 1998 | 12.24 million | +26.6% |
| 1999 | 15.65 million | +27.9% |
| 2000 | 20.63 million | +31.9% |
| 2001 | 26.62 million | +29.0% |
| 2002 | 35.14 million | +32.0% |
| 2003 | 46.27 million | +31.7% |
| 2004 | 65.25 million | +41.0% |
| 2005 | 101.26 million | +55.2% |
| 2006 | 146.74 million | +44.9% |
| 2007 | 196.38 million | +33.8% |
| 2008 | 272.39 million | +38.7% |
| 2009 | 329.12 million | +20.8% |
| 2010 | 398.30 million | +21.0% |
| 2011 | 478.05 million | +20.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 844,742 | 844,742 | 844,742 | 1 |
| 1970s | 1.84 million | 1.34 million | 2.20 million | 6 |
| 1980s | 3.53 million | 2.37 million | 4.69 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.05 million | 5.05 million | 15.65 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 123.98 million | 20.63 million | 329.12 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 438.17 million | 398.30 million | 478.05 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
More infrastructure data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 1.10 billion (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 92.7 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 4.00 million (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 0.4 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.003 units per person (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -20 % change on previous year (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 4.00 million (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 0.8324 units per person (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 478.05 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 478.05 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 844,742 in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 3rd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,696.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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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About this data
International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database.