Côte d’Ivoire: 4% surge in global digital economy ranking

The Côte d’Ivoire has made remarkable strides in its digital economy, as highlighted in the 2026 edition of the International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Development Index (IDI). Over the past year, the country boosted its national score from 69.5 points in 2025 to 72 points in 2026, marking an impressive 4% increase.

This upward trend reflects the tangible results of sustained investments in digital infrastructure and growing market adoption. It aligns perfectly with the country’s strategic priorities outlined in its National Development Plan (NDP) and National Digital Development Strategy, where economic digitalization and telecom modernization are cornerstones of long-term growth.

On the continental stage, Côte d’Ivoire is solidifying its position among Africa’s digital leaders. With a score of 72 points, the country ranks 15th in Africa and significantly outperforms the continental average, which stands at 59 points.

To grasp the drivers behind this achievement, it’s crucial to examine the two structural pillars that define the ITU’s evaluation framework. The first, Universal Connectivity, assesses foundational digital adoption metrics such as household internet access, individual internet usage, and active mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Here, Côte d’Ivoire scores 64.9 points—well above Africa’s average of 38.1 points.

The second pillar, Meaningful Connectivity, evaluates operational factors like mobile network coverage, fixed and mobile data traffic per subscription, device ownership, and the affordability of tariffs. Côte d’Ivoire excels here too, securing a strong 79 points compared to the regional average of 65 points.

Mobile broadband coverage stands out as a key strength. The country’s 3G and 4G/LTE networks reach 98% and 90% of the population, respectively. Additionally, retail prices for mobile data plans and voice services remain highly competitive, costing just 1.8% of the national gross income (GNI) per capita—translating to a financial accessibility index of 95.8 out of 100. Fixed broadband plans are similarly affordable, priced at 4.8% of GNI per capita, yielding an accessibility index of 87 points.

Market penetration figures further underscore progress: 73.1% of individuals own a mobile phone, while 70.8% actively use the internet. Meanwhile, 58.7% of households have home internet access, and active mobile broadband subscriptions have reached 84.1 per 100 inhabitants.

While these milestones are commendable, certain performance indicators reveal opportunities for deeper capital allocation and usage expansion. Mobile broadband data consumption averages 32.7 gigabytes per subscription, yielding a traffic score of 51.5 points. Fixed broadband traffic, on average, stands at 893.9 gigabytes per subscription, resulting in a normalized score of 73.7 points. These figures suggest that while basic connectivity is now firmly established, there remains substantial room for growth in advanced digital consumption and high-bandwidth utilization.

In the broader African context, Morocco leads the continent with an IDI score of 89.2 points, followed closely by Mauritius (89.1 points), Algeria (87.8 points), South Africa (86.4 points), and the Seychelles (84.4 points). Completing the top 10 are Tunisia (80.1 points), Cabo Verde (79.8 points), Egypt (79.6 points), Eswatini (78.9 points), and Botswana (77.7 points). Rounding out the top 15 are Gabon (76.2 points), Ghana (75.6 points), Senegal (72.8 points), Namibia (72.2 points), and Côte d’Ivoire (72 points).