Mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Mobile phone subscriptions was 85.95 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 85.95 million for mobile phone subscriptions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.5% on the previous year and up 181.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia peaked at 85.95 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Ethiopia 23rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 674 | 0 | 6,740 | 10 |
| 2000s | 879,454 | 17,757 | 4.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.30 million | 6.85 million | 51.22 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 68.69 million | 44.50 million | 85.95 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More science & technology data for Ethiopia
- Scientific and technical journal articles 6,728 (2023)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 54 (2020)
- Patent applications, residents 6 (2020)
- Research and development expenditure 0.3% (2017)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 0.5939 per 100 people (2024)
- Researchers in R&D 89.04 per million people (2017)
- Technicians in R&D 33.26 per million people (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Ethiopia was 85.95 million in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 85.95 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Ethiopia rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Ethiopia ranks 23rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 181.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).