Telecommunications revenue (% GDP) in Africa
Africa: Telecommunications revenue (% GDP) was 4.0% in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Telecommunications revenue in Africa, 1970–2010
Source: International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates. Measured in % GDP.
Analysis
Africa recorded 4.0% for telecommunications revenue in 2010. That is the lowest value across all 30 years on record.
That represents a change of down 6.7% on the previous year and down 97.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, telecommunications revenue in Africa peaked at 2,474,950,000.0% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2010.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Telecommunications revenue (% GDP) in Africa, year by year
| Year | % GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,474,950,000.0% | — |
| 1982 | 34.9% | -100.0% |
| 1983 | 21.7% | -37.8% |
| 1984 | 26.6% | +22.5% |
| 1985 | 48.1% | +81.1% |
| 1986 | 53.0% | +10.1% |
| 1987 | 60.2% | +13.6% |
| 1988 | 92.3% | +53.4% |
| 1989 | 92.8% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 114.8% | +23.7% |
| 1991 | 136.2% | +18.6% |
| 1992 | 136.7% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 147.0% | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 172.2% | +17.1% |
| 1995 | 156.9% | -8.9% |
| 1996 | 202.7% | +29.2% |
| 1997 | 271.9% | +34.2% |
| 1998 | 289.9% | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 350.7% | +21.0% |
| 2000 | 192.7% | -45.1% |
| 2001 | 274.5% | +42.5% |
| 2002 | 335.5% | +22.2% |
| 2003 | 109.6% | -67.3% |
| 2004 | 222.2% | +102.7% |
| 2005 | 778.1% | +250.2% |
| 2006 | 19.2% | -97.5% |
| 2007 | 20.8% | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 4.2% | -80.0% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | -6.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Telecommunications revenue (% GDP) in Africa 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +250.2% | 222.2% | 778.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,474,950,000.0% | 2,474,950,000.0% | 2,474,950,000.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 53.7% | 21.7% | 92.8% | 8 |
| 1990s | 197.9% | 114.8% | 350.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 196.1% | 4.2% | 778.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 2 Kenya 9.9% compare
- 3 Senegal 9.7% compare
- 4 Togo 9.4% compare
- 5 Cape Verde 8.3% compare
- 6 Liberia 8.1% compare
- 7 Sao Tome and Principe 6.7% compare
- 8 Cote d'Ivoire 6.6% compare
More infrastructure data for Africa
- Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted 30.3% (2024)
- Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight 4.5% (2024)
- Proportion of the target population who received 3 doses of 76.0% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.9% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.6% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.7% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 1.8% (2024)
- Total official flows for infrastructure, by recipient countries 17,916 million constant US$ (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports 8.09 ratio (2024)
- Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk of extinction 28.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is telecommunications revenue in Africa?
- Telecommunications revenue in Africa was 4.0% in 2010, according to International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates.
- What is the highest telecommunications revenue recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,474,950,000.0% in 1970.
- What is the lowest telecommunications revenue recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2010.
- How does Africa rank for telecommunications revenue?
- Africa ranks 5th out of 6 groups with data for 2010.
- Is telecommunications revenue rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 97.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report and database, and World Bank estimates, published as part of Telecommunications revenue (% GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Telecommunications revenue is the revenue from the provision of telecommunications services such as fixed-line, mobile, and data.