Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Zambia

Zambia: Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers was 8.25 million in 2011. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2011)
8.25 million
Change on year
up 48.2%
World rank
22nd
of 53 countries
All-time high
8.25 million
in 2011
All-time low
15,000
in 1960
Years of data
40
1960–2011

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

02.0M4.0M6.0M8.0M1960198520111960: 15.0k1965: 17.1k1970: 23.2k1975: 28.4k1976: 28.2k1977: 29.5k1978: 30.0k1979: 30.7k1980: 32.7k1981: 34.9k1982: 36.3k1983: 37.5k1984: 41.8k1985: 43.8k1986: 47.2k1987: 50.9k1988: 58.5k1989: 65.8k1990: 65.1k1991: 68.9k1992: 75.9k1993: 78.0k1994: 79.8k1995: 78.3k1996: 80.7k1997: 81.9k1998: 86.0k1999: 111.3k2000: 182.2k2001: 206.9k2002: 226.8k2003: 329.4k2004: 556.1k2005: 1.0M2006: 1.8M2007: 2.7M2008: 3.6M2009: 4.5M2010: 5.6M2011: 8.3M

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

Analysis

In 2011, mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Zambia stood at 8.25 million. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.

The figure is up 48.2% on the previous year and up 3,888.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Zambia peaked at 8.25 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 15,000, in 1960.

Zambia ranks 22nd of 53 countries on this measure, 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 Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Zambia, 1960 to 2011.
Year Value Change
1960 15,000 —
1965 17,100 +14.0%
1970 23,200 +35.7%
1975 28,400 +22.4%
1976 28,200 -0.7%
1977 29,500 +4.6%
1978 30,000 +1.7%
1979 30,698 +2.3%
1980 32,659 +6.4%
1981 34,927 +6.9%
1982 36,330 +4.0%
1983 37,493 +3.2%
1984 41,819 +11.5%
1985 43,772 +4.7%
1986 47,164 +7.7%
1987 50,919 +8.0%
1988 58,492 +14.9%
1989 65,750 +12.4%
1990 65,057 -1.1%
1991 68,935 +6.0%
1992 75,880 +10.1%
1993 77,966 +2.7%
1994 79,786 +2.3%
1995 78,316 -1.8%
1996 80,656 +3.0%
1997 81,927 +1.6%
1998 85,960 +4.9%
1999 111,274 +29.4%
2000 182,179 +63.7%
2001 206,862 +13.5%
2002 226,766 +9.6%
2003 329,426 +45.3%
2004 556,073 +68.8%
2005 1.04 million +87.8%
2006 1.76 million +68.2%
2007 2.73 million +55.4%
2008 3.63 million +32.9%
2009 4.50 million +23.9%
2010 5.57 million +23.8%
2011 8.25 million +48.2%

Zambia compared with similar countries

  • Zambia's 8.25 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.90 million, 93% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
  • Zambia's 8.25 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.13 million, 2.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Zambia 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
2005 +87.8% 556,073 1.04 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 16,050 15,000 17,100 2
1970s 28,333 23,200 30,698 6
1980s 44,932 32,659 65,750 10
1990s 80,576 65,057 111,274 10
2000s 1.52 million 182,179 4.50 million 10
2010s 6.91 million 5.57 million 8.25 million 2

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 19 Senegal 9.70 million compare
  2. 20 Zimbabwe 9.56 million compare
  3. 21 Madagascar 8.80 million compare
  4. 23 Mozambique 7.94 million compare
  5. 24 Benin 7.92 million compare
  6. 25 Burkina Faso 7.82 million compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More infrastructure data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Zambia?
Mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers in Zambia was 8.25 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 Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 8.25 million in 2011.
What is the lowest mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 15,000 in 1960.
How does Zambia rank for mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers?
Zambia ranks 22nd out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
Is mobile and fixed-line telephone subscribers rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 3,888.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Zambia 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 Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/mobile-and-fixed-line-telephone-subscribers/zambia/

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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.