Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Africa
South Africa: Fixed telephone subscriptions was 1.01 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Analysis
In 2024, fixed telephone subscriptions in South Africa stood at 1.01 million.
The figure is down 25.1% on the previous year and down 72.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fixed telephone subscriptions in South Africa peaked at 5.49 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 650,013, in 1960.
That places South Africa 67th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 702,506 | 650,013 | 755,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.12 million | 916,000 | 1.51 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.30 million | 1.63 million | 3.08 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.11 million | 3.32 million | 5.49 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.90 million | 4.87 million | 4.96 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.09 million | 2.02 million | 4.86 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.45 million | 1.01 million | 2.10 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More infrastructure data for South Africa
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.58 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 114.79 million (2024)
- Air transport, passengers carried 15.45 million (2023)
- Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide 169,154 (2023)
- Air transport, freight 59.67 million ton-km (2023)
- Renewable internal freshwater resources, total 44.8 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita 718.2 cubic meters (2022)
- Individuals using the Internet 78.4% (2024)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, domestic 17.4% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fixed telephone subscriptions in South Africa?
- Fixed telephone subscriptions in South Africa was 1.01 million in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- What is the highest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.49 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest fixed telephone subscriptions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 650,013 in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for fixed telephone subscriptions?
- South Africa ranks 67th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fixed telephone subscriptions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 72.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published as part of Fixed telephone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Fixed telephone subscriptions refers to the sum of active number of analogue fixed telephone lines, voice-over-IP (VoIP) subscriptions, fixed wireless local loop (WLL) subscriptions, ISDN voice-channel equivalents and fixed public payphones.