Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD): Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)'s fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) rose 0.28 on 2024 (from 0.84 to 1.12).

Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2024), the average change was +0.04 and a typical year strayed about 0.06 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 4.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 0.28 in 2025 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.05 in 2020. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.07 a year. A straight line explains 76% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

What this measures

Fixed broadband subscriptions refers to fixed subscriptions to high-speed access to the public Internet (a TCP/IP connection), at downstream speeds equal to, or greater than, 256 kbit/s. This includes cable modem, DSL, fiber-to-the-home/building, other fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions, satellite broadband and terrestrial fixed wireless broadband. This total is measured irrespective of the method of payment. It excludes subscriptions that have access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile-cellular networks. It should include fixed WiMAX and any other fixed wireless technologies. It includes both residential subscriptions and subscriptions for organizations.

Limitations: Data are collected by national statistics offices through household surveys. Because survey questions and definitions differ, the estimates may not be strictly comparable across countries. Fixed broadband Internet includes cable modem, DSL, fibre and other fixed broadband technology (such as satellite broadband Internet, Ethernet LANs, fixed-wireless access, Wireless Local Area Network, WiMAX etc.). Subscribers with access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile cellular networks are excluded. Advertised and real speeds can differ substantially.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 20 values

Fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 0.08 (2023)
• Algeria — 13.32 (2024)
• Bahrain — 16.99 (2024)
• Djibouti — 1.47 (2023)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 11.69 (2024)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 12.06 (2024)
• Iraq — 17.63 (2024)
• Israel — 29.18 (2024)
• Jordan — 7.02 (2024)
• Kuwait — 1.01 (2023)

More infrastructure data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)

• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 5 million (2025)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 0.4 (2025)
• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 717,259 (2023)
• Air transport, freight (million ton-km) — 4,829 (2023)
• Air transport, passengers carried — 56.96 million (2023)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 1.2 billion (2025)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 90.4 (2025)
• Scientific and technical journal articles — 48,023 (2023)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)'s fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people)?

1.12 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2005?

It is up 2,767% from 0.04 in 2005 (18.27% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1.12 in 2025 and the lowest 0.04 in 2005.

Is the latest change in fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) unusual for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)?

In 2025, Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD)'s fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) rose 0.28 on 2024 (from 0.84 to 1.12). Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2024), the average change was +0.04 and a typical year strayed about 0.06 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 4.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

Where does this data come from?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IT.NET.BBND.P2, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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