Côte d’Ivoire’s digital economy jumps 4% in global IT ranking

Ivory Coast climbs in global digital competitiveness index

Ivory Coast has made remarkable strides in its digital economy, as evidenced by the 2026 edition of the ICT Development Index (IDI) released by the International Telecommunication Union. Over the past year, the country has significantly expanded its digital footprint, boosting its national score from 69.5 points in 2025 to 72 points in 2026—a gain of approximately 4%.

This upward trend underscores the tangible impact of sustained investments in infrastructure and market adoption. It aligns seamlessly with the strategic priorities outlined in the National Development Plan and the National Digital Development Strategy, both of which have positioned digitalization and telecom modernization as key drivers of economic growth.

On the African continent, Ivory Coast continues to strengthen its position among the elite performers. With a score of 72 points, the country ranks 15th in Africa, comfortably above the continental average of 59 points.

Key pillars fueling Ivory Coast’s digital progress

To fully grasp the factors behind this achievement, it’s essential to examine the two structural pillars that form the backbone of the ITU’s evaluation framework. The first component, ‘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. In this area, Ivory Coast has achieved a score of 64.9 points—a substantial leap above the African average of 38.1 points.

The second component, ‘Meaningful Connectivity’, evaluates operational factors including mobile network coverage, fixed and mobile data traffic per subscription, device ownership, and the affordability of services. Ivory Coast excels here with a score of 79 points, outpacing the regional African average of 65 points.

Infrastructure and affordability drive success

One of the country’s standout strengths is its mobile broadband coverage. 3G and 4G/LTE networks now reach 98% and 90% of the population, respectively. 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 plans are similarly affordable, priced at 4.8% of the national gross income per capita, yielding an accessibility index of 87 points.

Market penetration figures further highlight the country’s digital momentum. 73.1% of individuals own a mobile phone, while 70.8% actively use the internet. Furthermore, 58.7% of households have home internet access, and the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions has reached 84.1 per 100 inhabitants.

Opportunities for deeper digital engagement

While these milestones are commendable, there remains untapped potential in certain performance indicators. For instance, mobile broadband data consumption stands at 32.7 gigabytes per subscription, translating to a traffic score of 51.5 points. Similarly, fixed broadband traffic averages 893.9 gigabytes per subscription, resulting in a normalized score of 73.7 points. These figures suggest that while foundational connectivity and access are now firmly established, there is room for growth in advanced digital usage and high-bandwidth applications.

Africa’s digital leaders and Ivory Coast’s regional standing

The top performers on the continent include Morocco (89.2 points), Mauritius (89.1 points), Algeria (87.8 points), South Africa (86.4 points), and the Seychelles (84.4 points). The Top 10 is rounded out by Tunisia (80.1 points), Cape Verde (79.8 points), Egypt (79.6 points), Eswatini (78.9 points), and Botswana (77.7 points). Closing out the Top 15 are Gabon (76.2 points), Ghana (75.6 points), Senegal (72.8 points), Namibia (72.2 points), and Ivory Coast (72 points).

Anselme Akéko