Côte d’Ivoire’s digital economy scores 4% rise in global ICT index
Ivory Coast’s digital transformation accelerates with robust ICT growth
The Ivory Coast has marked a significant milestone in its digital economy journey, recording a 4% increase in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Index score as per the 2026 edition of the ITU’s ICT Development Index. The nation’s score surged from 69.5 points in 2025 to 72 points in 2026, reflecting deliberate investments in digital infrastructure and market adoption strategies.
This upward trajectory aligns perfectly with the country’s National Development Plan and its National Digital Development Strategy. Both frameworks prioritize digitalization of the economy and modernization of telecom infrastructures as cornerstones for sustainable growth. The gains underscore the effectiveness of these initiatives in bridging the digital divide across Ivorian communities.
Regional standing strengthens Ivory Coast’s digital credentials
Within Africa’s digital landscape, the Ivory Coast has cemented its position among the continent’s elite performers. With a score of 72 points, the nation ranks 15th on the continent, significantly outperforming the African average of 59 points. This achievement highlights the country’s commitment to digital integration and economic modernization.
To better understand this performance, examining the two structural pillars that underpin the ITU’s evaluation framework is crucial. The first pillar, ‘Universal Connectivity,’ assesses foundational digital adoption metrics including household internet access, individual internet usage, and active mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Here, the Ivory Coast achieved 64.9 points, markedly higher than 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 financial accessibility of services. The Ivory Coast scored 79 points in this category, surpassing the regional African average of 65 points.
Mobile broadband coverage and affordability drive progress
The nation’s strong mobile broadband coverage stands as a key achievement, with 3G and 4G/LTE networks reaching 98% and 90% of the population respectively. Additionally, the cost of mobile data and voice plans remains exceptionally affordable, accounting for just 1.8% of gross national income (GNI) per capita. This translates to a financial accessibility index of 95.8 out of 100. Fixed broadband plans are equally competitive at 4.8% of GNI per capita, yielding an accessibility index of 87 points.
Market penetration figures further illustrate the country’s digital momentum: 73.1% of individuals own mobile phones, while 70.8% actively use the internet. Home internet access reaches 58.7% of households, and active mobile broadband subscriptions have climbed to 84.1 per 100 inhabitants.
Opportunities for deeper digital engagement emerge
Despite these advances, room for improvement remains, particularly in maximizing digital usage potential. Mobile broadband data consumption stands at 32.7 gigabytes per subscription, corresponding to a traffic score of 51.5 points. Fixed broadband traffic averages 893.9 gigabytes per subscription, yielding a normalized score of 73.7 points. These figures suggest that while basic connectivity is well-established, deeper digital consumption and high-bandwidth usage present substantial growth opportunities.
Africa’s digital leaders: where Ivory Coast stands
The Ivory Coast’s 72-point score places it among Africa’s top digital economies. The continent’s leaders include Morocco (89.2 points), Mauritius (89.1 points), Algeria (87.8 points), South Africa (86.4 points), and Seychelles (84.4 points). The top ten is completed by Tunisia (80.1 points), Cape Verde (79.8 points), Egypt (79.6 points), Eswatini (78.9 points), and Botswana (77.7 points). Following this elite group are Gabon (76.2 points), Ghana (75.6 points), Senegal (72.8 points), Namibia (72.2 points), and the Ivory Coast, which rounds out the top 15 African digital economies.
