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ICT & Media🇿🇦 South Africa

South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions

– Mobile cellular subscriptions refer to subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using cellular technology.

South Africa Mobile Cellular SubscriptionsMillion · 2015–2024

12010080602015: 88.002016: 82.41Trough2017: 88.502018: 92.432019: 96.972020: 95.962021: 100.32022: 100.32023: 108.42024: 114.8Peak20152017201920212024
Source: data.worldbank.orgLast updated: April 2026

What South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions shows

South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 114.8 Million in 2024, up 5.9% on 2023. The evolution of South Africa’s mobile cellular market from 2015 to 2024 is a spectacular saga of explosive growth and a radical digital revolution that has completely reshaped the nation's economic landscape. Subscription volumes underwent a staggering transformation, leaping from a robust 88.00 million in 2015 to a phenomenal, earth-shattering 114.79 million by 2024.

Trend

Rising to a series high

South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 88.00 Million in 2015 to 114.8 Million in 2024 (+30.4%), an average of +3% a year. The series high was 114.8 Million in 2024 and the low 82.41 Million in 2016.

Volatility

A 28.2% peak-to-trough swing

The gap between the series high (2024) and low (2016) is 32.38 Million. The sharpest single-year move was +8.1% in 2023.

Structure

Ranks 11 of 33 countries covered

Among the 33 countries in this dataset, South Africa ranks 11 for 2024, behind China (1,870 Million) and India (1,150 Million). It accounts for 1.3% of the global total in 2024.

Full series

South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions by year

Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Million.

Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.

South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions, 2015–2024, Million.
YearMillionChange vs prior year
2024Peak 114.8 +5.9%
2023 108.4 +8.1%
2022 100.3 −0.1%
2021 100.3 +4.6%
2020 95.96 −1%
2019 96.97 +4.9%
2018 92.43 +4.4%
2017 88.50 +7.4%
2016 Trough82.41 −6.4%
2015 88.00 —

Regional context

How South Africa compares in Sub-Saharan Africa

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions by country, 2024, Million. South Africa is highlighted.

1Nigeria
164.7
2South Africa
114.8
3Egypt
113.2
4Senegal
22.92

About this indicator

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions — – Mobile cellular subscriptions refer to subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using cellular technology. It includes both postpaid subscriptions and active prepaid SIM cards that have been used within a specified period (typically the last three months).

This meteoric rise represents a monumental triumph of infrastructure development and a visionary shift toward total digital inclusion across the continent's most industrial economy. South Africa has become a vibrant laboratory for telecom innovation, where fierce market competition and aggressive network rollouts have brought millions of citizens into the modern financial fold. The surge is driven by a dynamic population that has embraced a mobile-first lifestyle, fueling an unprecedented, voracious demand for high-octane data services and mobile commerce. From the bustling urban centers of Johannesburg to the rural heartlands, the expansion of 4G and the ambitious rollout of 5G are creating a unified digital frontier. This connectivity has ignited a wildfire of growth in e-government services, digital education, and regional fintech, making South Africa a dominant regional powerhouse in the digital economy. The nation’s providers have engaged in a heroic effort to modernize infrastructure on an immense scale, ensuring that high-capacity networks remain resilient across the nation's diverse geography. This dataset captures a nation in the midst of a historic awakening, proving that through massive investment and bold technological adoption, a market can achieve legendary status in record time. South Africa is no longer just observing the digital future—it is actively engineering a resilient and high-velocity telecom landscape that serves as a massive blueprint for connectivity across the continent. This is a portrait of a digital superpower maintaining a relentless grip on the future of communications.

Indicator
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions
Country
South Africa
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Unit
Million
Coverage
2015–2024, annual
Category
ICT & Media
Last updated
April 2026
Source
data.worldbank.org

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Frequently asked questions

What is South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions?

Definition – Mobile cellular subscriptions refer to subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service that provide access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using cellular technology. It includes both postpaid subscriptions and active prepaid SIM cards that have been used within a specified period (typically the last three months). Inclusions – The data includes all active mobile cellular subscriptions offering voice communication services, covering both prepaid and postpaid accounts. It encompasses subscriptions across analogue and digital cellular technologies (including 2G, 3G, and 4G systems) and is compiled from telecom operators and regulatory authorities, typically aggregated at the national level. Exclusions – The data excludes subscriptions used solely for mobile data services such as USB modems or data cards, as well as private trunked mobile radio, radio paging, telepoint systems, and telemetry services. It also does not capture inactive SIM cards or non-voice-based mobile connectivity services.

What was South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions in 2024?

South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions was 114.8 Million in 2024, up 5.9% on 2023.

How has South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions changed between 2015 and 2024?

South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions moved from 88.00 Million in 2015 to 114.8 Million in 2024 (+30.4%), an average of +3% a year. The series high was 114.8 Million in 2024 and the low 82.41 Million in 2016.

Which year had the highest and lowest South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions?

The highest value was 114.8 Million in 2024 and the lowest was 82.41 Million in 2016.

Where does the South Africa Mobile Cellular Subscriptions data come from?

The series is sourced from data.worldbank.org (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.CEL.SETS). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Million.

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