Ivory coast digital economy scores a 4% jump in global IT index
Ivory Coast’s digital leap: how a 4% rise reshapes its tech landscape
Ivory Coast has significantly advanced in the digital economy, as reflected in the 2026 edition of the ICT Development Index (IDI) released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The country’s score surged from 69.5 in 2025 to 72 in 2026, marking a robust 4% increase—an achievement driven by strengthened digital infrastructure and rising market adoption.
This progress aligns with the nation’s strategic blueprints: the National Development Plan (NDP) and the National Digital Development Strategy, both prioritizing digital transformation and telecom modernization as key growth drivers.
Ivory Coast outpaces Africa’s digital average
With a score of 72, Ivory Coast now ranks 15th in Africa, surpassing the continental average of 59. The country’s performance is rooted in two core evaluation pillars set by the ITU: Universal Connectivity and Meaningful Connectivity.
Universal connectivity: a strong foundation
Under the Universal Connectivity pillar—measuring basic digital adoption such as household internet access, individual internet use, and mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants—Ivory Coast scored 64.9, far above Africa’s average of 38.1.
Meaningful connectivity: infrastructure and affordability at the forefront
The Meaningful Connectivity pillar assesses operational factors like mobile network coverage, fixed and mobile data traffic per subscription, device ownership, and financial accessibility. Ivory Coast excelled here with a score of 79, beating the African regional average of 65.
Key highlights include:
- Mobile broadband coverage: 3G and 4G/LTE networks now reach 98% and 90% of the population, respectively.
- Affordable mobile tariffs: Data and voice plans cost just 1.8% of GNI per capita, yielding a financial accessibility index of 95.8/100.
- Fixed broadband affordability: Plans average 4.8% of GNI per capita, with a financial accessibility score of 87/100.
In consumer adoption, 73.1% of individuals own a mobile phone, 70.8% actively use the internet, and 58.7% of households have home internet access. Mobile broadband subscriptions now stand at 84.1 per 100 inhabitants.
Room for deeper digital engagement
While Ivory Coast excels in connectivity coverage and affordability, there’s untapped potential in advanced usage. For instance:
- Mobile data consumption: at 32.7 GB per subscription, yielding a traffic score of 51.5.
- Fixed broadband usage: averaging 893.9 GB per subscription, with a normalized score of 73.7.
These gaps suggest that while basic access is firmly established, deeper digital consumption and high-bandwidth activities remain areas for further investment and user adoption.
Where Ivory Coast stands in Africa’s digital race
The 2026 rankings place Morocco at the top with an IDI score of 89.2, followed closely by Mauritius (89.1), Algeria (87.8), South Africa (86.4), and Seychelles (84.4). The top 10 is rounded out by Tunisia (80.1), Cape Verde (79.8), Egypt (79.6), Eswatini (78.9), and Botswana (77.7).
Completing the top 15 are Gabon (76.2), Ghana (75.6), Senegal (72.8), Namibia (72.2), and Ivory Coast (72), cementing its place among Africa’s digital leaders.
