The Côte d’Ivoire has made remarkable strides in its digital economy, as revealed by the 2026 edition of the ICT Development Index (IDI) compiled by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Over the past year, the country significantly expanded its digital footprint, boosting its national score from 69.5 in 2025 to 72 in 2026—a gain of nearly 4%.
This upward trajectory underscores the tangible results of sustained infrastructure investments and robust market adoption. It aligns seamlessly with the country’s strategic roadmaps—the National Development Plan (PND) and the National Digital Development Strategy—which prioritize digitalization and telecom infrastructure modernization as key drivers of economic growth.
On the African stage, the Côte d’Ivoire is solidifying its position among the continent’s digital leaders. With its 72-point score, the country ranks 15th in Africa, outpacing the continental average of 59 points.
Breaking down the ITU’s evaluation framework
To grasp the drivers behind this performance, it’s essential to examine the two foundational pillars that shape the ITU’s assessment criteria. The first, Universal Connectivity, assesses foundational digital adoption metrics such as household internet access, individual internet usage, and the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Here, the Côte d’Ivoire scores 64.9 points—well above Africa’s average benchmark 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 service plans. The country delivers a strong score of 79 points in this category, surpassing Africa’s regional average of 65 points.
The Côte d’Ivoire’s mobile broadband network coverage stands out as a major advantage. 3G networks now reach 98% of the population, while 4G/LTE coverage extends to 90%. Additionally, retail prices for mobile data and voice plans remain highly competitive, accounting for just 1.8% of the national gross income per capita—a financial accessibility index of 95.8 out of 100. Fixed broadband plan prices are similarly affordable at 4.8% of gross income per capita, yielding an accessibility index of 87 points.
Market penetration and digital engagement
Digital adoption among the population is gaining momentum. Mobile phone ownership stands at 73.1% of individuals, while active internet use reaches 70.8%. At the household level, 58.7% now have home internet access, and the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions has hit 84.1 per 100 inhabitants.
Despite these milestones, certain performance indicators reveal untapped potential. For instance, mobile broadband data consumption averages 32.7 gigabytes per subscription, translating to a traffic score of 51.5 points. Fixed broadband usage averages 893.9 gigabytes per subscription, yielding a normalized score of 73.7 points. These figures suggest that while foundational connectivity is well-established, deeper digital engagement and high-bandwidth usage still offer substantial room for growth.
Regional digital performance: where the Côte d’Ivoire stands
The continent’s digital leaders are led by Morocco (89.2 points), followed by Mauritius (89.1 points), Algeria (87.8 points), South Africa (86.4 points), and the Seychelles (84.4 points). Rounding out the Top 10 are Tunisia (80.1 points), Cape Verde (79.8 points), Egypt (79.6 points), Eswatini (78.9 points), and Botswana (77.7 points). The Côte d’Ivoire sits just outside this elite group, ranking 15th with its 72-point score, trailing closely behind Senegal (72.8 points), Namibia (72.2 points), and ahead of the Gabon (76.2 points) and Ghana (75.6 points).
