South Africa: Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people)
In , South Africa's Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) was 179.34.
That's up 4.6% from 2023, the highest value on record.
The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 123.94 . South Africa ranks #8 globally out of 151 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #2 of 35.
Source: World Bank Open Data (IT.CEL.SETS.P2) • Data as of 2024
Trend (2006–2024)
Highlights
- Peak
- 179.34
- Trough
- 79.33
- 1-year change
- +4.6%
- 5-year change
- +10.2%
- +2.0% / yr
- 10-year change
- +25.8%
- +2.3% / yr
Historical Data — Last 10 Years
| Year | Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) |
|---|---|
| 179.3363 | |
| 171.5086 | |
| 160.7285 | |
| 163.1281 | |
| 158.4473 | |
| 162.7385 | |
| 157.6919 | |
| 153.5480 | |
| 143.9286 | |
| 155.1375 |
About Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people)
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.
Indicator code: IT.CEL.SETS.P2 • Category: Technology
Frequently asked questions
- What was South Africa's Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) in 2024?
- In 2024, South Africa's Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) was 179.34, according to World Bank Open Data.
- Is South Africa's Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) rising or falling?
- South Africa's Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) rose 4.6% from 2023 to 2024.
- How does South Africa rank globally on Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people)?
- In 2024, South Africa ranked #8 out of 151 countries reporting Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people).
- How does South Africa's Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) compare to the world average?
- The global average for Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) in 2024 was 123.94, so South Africa is above the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #2 of 35.
- What is Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) and how is it measured?
- 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.
Source: World Bank Open Data (IT.CEL.SETS.P2), CC BY 4.0.