Côte d’Ivoire climbs 4% in global digital economy index

Digital economy growth highlights Côte d’Ivoire’s strategic vision

The latest edition of the ICT Development Index (IDI) by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reveals Côte d’Ivoire’s remarkable advancement in digital transformation. Over the past year, the country elevated its national score from 69.5 points in 2025 to 72 points in 2026, marking a 4% increase that underscores its commitment to economic modernization.

Strategic investments fuel digital infrastructure expansion

This progress stems from deliberate policy frameworks outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP) and the National Digital Strategy. These initiatives prioritize digital economy growth and telecom infrastructure upgrades as cornerstones of sustainable development. The results reflect a broader continental trend where African nations are rapidly closing digital gaps through targeted investments.

African leadership position strengthens with top-tier performance

Côte d’Ivoire now ranks 15th in Africa on the ITU index, surpassing the continent’s average score of 59 points. This achievement solidifies its position among Africa’s digital leaders, demonstrating how focused strategies can accelerate technological adoption across diverse sectors.

Two pillars of digital transformation explained

The ITU evaluation framework assesses performance across two critical dimensions:

• Universal connectivity: Measures foundational digital access, including household internet adoption, individual usage rates, and mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Côte d’Ivoire scored 64.9 points here—significantly higher than Africa’s continental average of 38.1 points.
• Meaningful connectivity: Evaluates operational factors like mobile network coverage, fixed/mobile data traffic per subscription, device ownership, and financial accessibility. The country earned 79 points in this category, exceeding the African regional average of 65 points.

Mobile and broadband access drive digital adoption

A standout achievement is the 98% 3G and 90% 4G/LTE coverage across Côte d’Ivoire’s population. Affordability remains a key driver, with mobile data and voice plans costing just 1.8% of the gross national income (GNI) per capita—translating to a financial accessibility index of 95.8/100. Fixed broadband plans, at 4.8% of GNI, score 87/100 in accessibility.

Market penetration figures further highlight progress: 73.1% of individuals own mobile phones, 70.8% actively use the internet, and 58.7% of households have home internet access. Mobile broadband subscriptions now reach 84.1 per 100 inhabitants, reflecting robust infrastructure deployment.

Opportunities in advanced digital consumption

While foundational metrics show strong growth, deeper engagement reveals untapped potential. Mobile broadband data consumption averages 32.7 GB per subscription (51.5 points), while fixed broadband usage hits 893.9 GB per subscription (73.7 points). These figures suggest room for expansion in high-bandwidth applications and services.

Regional digital landscape: Côte d’Ivoire holds strong position

Côte d’Ivoire ranks just behind Senegal (72.8 points) in West Africa. The continental top five includes Morocco (89.2), Mauritius (89.1), Algeria (87.8), South Africa (86.4), and Seychelles (84.4). The top 15 features Tunisia, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Eswatini, Botswana, Gabon, Ghana, Namibia, and Côte d’Ivoire—each demonstrating the diversity of Africa’s digital progress.