Mobile cellular subscriptions in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Mobile cellular subscriptions was 85.95 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile cellular subscriptions in Ethiopia, 1960–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile cellular subscriptions in Ethiopia is 85.95 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 11.5% on the previous year and up 181.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile cellular subscriptions in Ethiopia peaked at 85.95 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1960.
Ethiopia ranks 23rd of 214 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile cellular subscriptions in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 6,740 | — |
| 2000 | 17,757 | +163.5% |
| 2001 | 27,500 | +54.9% |
| 2002 | 50,369 | +83.2% |
| 2003 | 51,324 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 155,534 | +203.0% |
| 2005 | 410,630 | +164.0% |
| 2006 | 866,700 | +111.1% |
| 2007 | 1.21 million | +39.4% |
| 2008 | 1.95 million | +61.7% |
| 2009 | 4.05 million | +107.3% |
| 2010 | 6.85 million | +69.2% |
| 2011 | 14.13 million | +106.1% |
| 2012 | 20.52 million | +45.3% |
| 2013 | 25.65 million | +25.0% |
| 2014 | 30.49 million | +18.9% |
| 2015 | 42.31 million | +38.8% |
| 2016 | 51.22 million | +21.1% |
| 2017 | 39.60 million | -22.7% |
| 2019 | 41.92 million | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 44.50 million | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 64.50 million | +44.9% |
| 2022 | 71.42 million | +10.7% |
| 2023 | 77.05 million | +7.9% |
| 2024 | 85.95 million | +11.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 85.95 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 15.00 million, 5.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 85.95 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 6.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 674 | 0 | 6,740 | 10 |
| 2000s | 879,454 | 17,757 | 4.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.30 million | 6.85 million | 51.22 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 68.69 million | 44.50 million | 85.95 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More infrastructure data for Ethiopia
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 65.08 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 765,634 (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 0.5798 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0058 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -8.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 765,634 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 0.6508 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, gaps filled 85.95 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile cellular subscriptions in Ethiopia?
- Mobile cellular subscriptions in Ethiopia was 85.95 million in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 85.95 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile cellular subscriptions recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1960.
- How does Ethiopia rank for mobile cellular subscriptions?
- Ethiopia ranks 23rd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile cellular subscriptions rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 181.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Mobile cellular subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Mobile cellular telephone subscriptions are subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the PSTN using cellular technology. The indicator includes (and is split into) the number of postpaid subscriptions, and the number of active prepaid accounts (i.e. that have been used during the last three months). The indicator applies to all mobile cellular subscriptions that offer voice communications. It excludes subscriptions via data cards or USB modems, subscriptions to public mobile data services, private trunked mobile radio, telepoint, radio paging and telemetry services.