South Africa’s mobile subscriptions rose to 179.3 per 100 people in 2024.

Higher is better. A higher figure means more SIM connections for each resident, which generally points to wider access to calls, messaging and mobile data. South Africa stood at 179.3 per 100 people in 2024, up from 171.5 per 100 people a year earlier, a rise of 4.6%. Since 2015 the lowest figure was 143.9 per 100 people in 2016. The latest reading is also the highest in that span, so it sits at the top of its own range.

Why it matters. For households, a level this high reflects how common it is to carry more than one SIM, whether to spread costs across networks or to keep a separate line for data. Mobile operators and businesses that sell or serve customers by phone can reach a market with well over one subscription per resident. For the state, mobile networks are the main route for reaching citizens digitally, though a subscription count alone gives no sign of coverage quality or affordability.