Science & Technology in South Africa 162 indicators covering science & technology for South Africa. IndicatorLatest Year10-yr change Rank Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP 2024 up 19.5% 153rd Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 179.34 2024 up 25.8% 10th Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.79 units per person 2024 up 25.8% 10th Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP 2024 up 37.6% 62nd Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 114.79 million 2024 up 44.8% 16th Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 89.37 units per square kilometre 2023 up 41.0% 115th Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year 2024 up 216.3% 51st Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.88 % change on previous year 2024 up 87.1% 49th Scientific and technical journal articles 14,949 2023 up 56.6% 33rd Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0002 units per person 2023 up 35.4% 74th Scientific and technical journal articles, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP 2023 up 64.5% 32nd Scientific and technical journal articles, per square kilometre 0.0123 units per square kilometre 2023 up 56.6% 87th Digital connectivity composite index 0.1131 standard deviations from the yearly mean 2024 up 162.0% 91st Scientific and technical journal articles, annual growth rate -5.87 % change on previous year 2023 down 187.4% 159th Mobile phone subscriptions 114.79 million 2024 up 44.8% 16th Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 179.34 per 100 people 2024 up 25.8% 10th Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 179.34 per 100 people 2024 up 25.8% 10th Patent applications, nonresidents 9,156 2021 up 39.0% 14th Share of the population using the Internet 78.4% 2024 up 59.9% 112th Number of people using the Internet 50.15 million people 2024 up 84.1% 23rd Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications 60.67 Patents 2023 down 40.1% 33rd Domestic ownership of inventions made abroad — Patent applications 0 Patents 2023 — 3rd Foreign ownership of domestic inventions — Patent applications 0 Patents 2023 — 3rd Indicators of international co-operation — Patent applications 0 Patents 2023 — 3rd Patent applications, residents 1,804 2021 up 175.0% 21st Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent grants 11 Patents 2022 down 81.2% 30th Research and development expenditure 0.6% 2022 down 8.1% 56th Proportion of individuals using the Internet 78.4% 2024 up 60.0% 122nd Patents - technology diffusion 4,592 Patents 2023 down 35.0% 13th Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 5.35 per 100 people 2024 up 74.2% 136th Landline Internet subscriptions 3.42 million 2024 up 100.6% 47th Life science patents granted, by filing office 3 patents 2023 down 99.7% 42nd Net official development assistance to medical research and basic health sectors 41.20 million millions of constant united states dollars 2024 up 9.9% 50th Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people, by download speed 5.35 per 100 population 2024 up 74.3% 143rd Researchers in R&D 444.16 per million people 2022 up 10.8% 76th Proportion of population covered by at least a 2G mobile network 99.9% 2024 unchanged 66th GERD as a percentage of GDP 0.6% 2022 down 8.1% 56th Share of the population within range of a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile network 99.9% 2024 unchanged 63rd Proportion of population covered by at least a 3G mobile network 99.8% 2024 up 5.1% 59th Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent applications 60.67 Patents 2023 down 40.1% 33rd Patents with foreign co-inventors — Patent applications 0 Patents 2023 — 3rd Researchers per million inhabitants 444.16 FTE 2022 up 10.8% 76th Proportion of population covered by at least a 4G mobile network 99.4% 2024 up 192.4% 58th Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent grants 11 Patents 2022 down 81.2% 30th R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita 444.16 per million people 2022 up 10.8% 76th Share of people in range of 4G mobile network 99.4% 2024 up 192.4% 54th Life science patents granted, by technology 2 patents 2023 down 99.5% 52nd Share of the population that owns a mobile phone 87.0% 2024 down 11.6% 94th Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex 87.0% 2024 down 11.6% 98th Annual patent applications per million people 29.33 applications per million people 2021 up 137.0% 46th Annual patent applications 1,804 2021 up 175.0% 21st Landline Internet subscriptions by download speed 3.23 million number 2024 up 1,828.1% 44th Composition of General Services Support Estimate — Agricultural 46.9 Percentage of general services support estimate 2024 up 8.0% 6th Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants 444.16 2022 up 10.8% 81st Research & development spending as a share of GDP 0.6% 2022 down 8.1% 56th Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a 81.1% 2024 up 15.4% 58th Number of R&D researchers per million people 444.16 per million people 2022 up 10.8% 76th Researchers (HC) - % Female 47.6% 2022 up 8.9% 33rd Mobile phone subscribers 1,265 per 1,000 people 2011 up 426.7% 4th Total current grants 0 current LCU 2011 — 30th Page 1 of 3 Next →