Ivory Coast leaps forward in global digital economy rankings
Ivory Coast has made remarkable strides in its digital economy, climbing 4% in the latest ICT Development Index (IDI) released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The country’s score improved from 69.5 in 2025 to 72 in 2026, reflecting a year of significant progress in digital infrastructure and market adoption.
This upward trend underscores the effectiveness of sustained investments in telecom networks and digital services. It aligns closely with the nation’s National Development Plan (NDP) and Digital Economy Strategy, both of which prioritize digital transformation and modernizing telecommunications as key drivers of economic growth.
On the continental stage, Ivory Coast has cemented its position among Africa’s digital leaders. With a score of 72 points, the country ranks 15th in Africa—well above the continental average of 59 points.
Breaking down Ivory Coast’s digital performance
The ITU’s evaluation framework assesses two core pillars of digital progress. The first, ‘Universal Connectivity’, measures foundational digital adoption, including home internet access, individual internet use, and mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Ivory Coast scored 64.9 points in this category—far exceeding Africa’s average of 38.1 points.
The second pillar, ‘Meaningful Connectivity’, evaluates operational factors such as mobile network coverage, fixed and mobile data traffic per subscription, device ownership, and affordability. Here, Ivory Coast achieved a strong 79 points, surpassing Africa’s regional benchmark of 65 points.
Key achievements in infrastructure and affordability
The country’s mobile broadband networks are a standout success. Coverage for 3G and 4G/LTE networks stands at an impressive 98% and 90% of the population, respectively. Additionally, mobile data and voice plans remain highly affordable, costing just 1.8% of the national gross income per capita—translating to a financial accessibility index of 95.8 out of 100. Fixed broadband plans are also reasonably priced at 4.8% of the national gross income per capita, yielding an accessibility score of 87 points.
Market penetration numbers further highlight Ivory Coast’s digital momentum. 73.1% of individuals now own a mobile phone, while 70.8% actively use the internet. 58.7% of households have home internet access, and mobile broadband subscriptions have reached 84.1 per 100 inhabitants.
Growth potential in advanced digital usage
Despite these gains, there is still room for improvement in deeper digital engagement. Mobile data consumption averages 32.7 gigabytes per subscription, scoring 51.5 points in traffic metrics. Meanwhile, fixed broadband usage stands at 893.9 gigabytes per subscription, translating to a normalized score of 73.7 points. These figures suggest that while basic connectivity is now firmly established, there is substantial untapped potential in high-bandwidth applications and advanced digital services.
Africa’s digital front-runners: Where Ivory Coast stands
Ivory Coast’s progress places it among the continent’s top digital economies, though it remains behind regional leaders like Morocco (89.2 points), Mauritius (89.1 points), Algeria (87.8 points), South Africa (86.4 points), and Seychelles (84.4 points). The top 10 is completed by Tunisia (80.1 points), Cabo Verde (79.8 points), Egypt (79.6 points), Eswatini (78.9 points), and Botswana (77.7 points). Just outside this elite group, Gabon (76.2 points), Ghana (75.6 points), Senegal (72.8 points), Namibia (72.2 points), and Ivory Coast (72 points) round out the top 15.
