Côte d’Ivoire has made significant strides in its digital economy, as reflected in the 2026 edition of the ICT Development Index (IDI) by the International Telecommunication Union. Over the past year, the country’s digital footprint expanded, lifting its national score from 69.5 points in 2025 to 72 points in 2026—a remarkable 4% increase.
This upward trend underscores the tangible results of sustained investments in digital infrastructure and market adoption. It aligns closely with the pillars of the National Development Plan and the National Digital Strategy, which prioritize digital transformation and the modernization of telecom networks as key drivers of economic growth.
Regionally, Côte d’Ivoire is solidifying its position among Africa’s digital leaders. With a score of 72 points, the country ranks 15th on the continent and significantly outperforms the African average of 59 points.
What fuels Côte d’Ivoire’s digital success?
The UIT’s evaluation framework rests on two core pillars. The first, ‘Universal Connectivity’, assesses foundational digital adoption, including household internet access, individual internet usage, and active mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. On this front, Côte d’Ivoire achieves a score of 64.9 points, well above the continental benchmark of 38.1 points.
The second pillar, ‘Meaningful Connectivity’, measures operational factors such as mobile network coverage, fixed and mobile data traffic per subscription, device ownership, and financial accessibility of tariffs. Here, Côte d’Ivoire earns a strong score of 79 points, outperforming the African regional average of 65 points.
Mobile broadband coverage stands out as a key strength. 3G and 4G/LTE networks now reach 98% and 90% of the population, respectively. Affordability remains a competitive advantage, with mobile data and voice plan tariffs representing just 1.8% of the national gross income per capita—translating to a financial accessibility index of 95.8 out of 100. Fixed broadband plans are similarly priced at 4.8% of gross income per capita, yielding an affordability index of 87 points.
Market penetration metrics also reflect steady progress. Mobile phone ownership stands at 73.1%, while 70.8% of individuals actively use the internet. Home internet access has reached 58.7% of households, and active mobile broadband subscriptions now total 84.1 per 100 inhabitants.
Opportunities for deeper digital engagement
While these gains are commendable, certain performance indicators reveal room for further investment and user engagement. Average mobile broadband data consumption is 32.7 gigabytes per subscription, yielding a traffic score of 51.5 points. Fixed broadband usage averages 893.9 gigabytes per subscription, resulting in a normalized score of 73.7 points. These figures suggest that while basic access and connectivity are firmly established, there is substantial untapped potential in advanced digital consumption and high-bandwidth utilization.
Where Côte d’Ivoire stands in Africa’s digital landscape
On the continent, Morocco leads the ranking with an IDI score of 89.2 points, followed closely by Mauritius (89.1), Algeria (87.8), South Africa (86.4), and the Seychelles (84.4). Rounding out the Top 10 are Tunisia (80.1), Cabo Verde (79.8), Egypt (79.6), Eswatini (78.9), and Botswana (77.7). The next tier includes Gabon (76.2), Ghana (75.6), Senegal (72.8), Namibia (72.2), and Côte d’Ivoire (72), which closes the Top 15 of Africa’s leading digital economies.
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