Côte d’Ivoire’s digital economy grows by 4% in global IT index

Digital transformation drives Côte d’Ivoire’s economic growth

The Côte d’Ivoire has made significant strides in its digital economy, as reflected in the 2026 edition of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) ICT Development Index (IDI). The country’s national score improved from 69.5 points in 2025 to 72 points in 2026—a remarkable 4% increase—demonstrating the tangible impact of sustained investments in digital infrastructure and market adoption.

This upward trajectory aligns with the government’s strategic priorities, particularly the National Development Plan (NDP) and the National Digital Development Strategy. Both frameworks prioritize digitalization and telecom modernization as key drivers of economic growth and long-term competitiveness.

Regional leadership in Africa’s digital economy

Côte d’Ivoire’s progress places it firmly among Africa’s digital frontrunners. With a score of 72 points, the country ranks 15th on the continent, outperforming the African average of 59 points. This achievement underscores the effectiveness of its policies and investments in expanding digital access and connectivity nationwide.

Key pillars of digital performance

The ITU’s evaluation framework assesses digital development across two critical dimensions:

• Universal connectivity: Assesses foundational digital adoption, including household internet access, individual internet use, and active mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Côte d’Ivoire scored 64.9 points here, significantly ahead of the African average of 38.1 points.
• Meaningful connectivity: Evaluates operational factors such as mobile network coverage, fixed and mobile data traffic per subscription, device ownership, and the affordability of digital services. The country achieved a strong score of 79 points, surpassing the African regional average of 65 points.

The country’s mobile broadband coverage stands out, with 3G and 4G/LTE networks reaching 98% and 90% of the population, respectively. Affordability remains a cornerstone of its digital success: mobile data and voice service tariffs account for just 1.8% of gross national income (GNI) per capita, translating to a financial accessibility index of 95.8 out of 100. Fixed broadband packages are similarly priced at 4.8% of GNI per capita, yielding an accessibility score of 87 points.

Market penetration metrics further highlight Côte d’Ivoire’s digital progress. Mobile phone ownership stands at 73.1% among individuals, while 70.8% actively use the internet. Additionally, 58.7% of households have home internet access, and mobile broadband subscriptions have reached 84.1 per 100 inhabitants.

Opportunities for deeper digital engagement

While the country has made impressive gains, there is room to deepen digital usage and optimize capital allocation. For instance, average mobile broadband data consumption is 32.7 gigabytes per subscription, reflecting a traffic score of 51.5 points. Fixed broadband usage averages 893.9 gigabytes per subscription, translating to a normalized score of 73.7 points. These figures suggest that while basic access and connectivity are well-established, there is significant potential for growth in high-bandwidth applications and advanced digital services.

How Côte d’Ivoire compares in Africa’s digital landscape

In the continental ranking, Morocco leads with an IDI score of 89.2 points, followed closely by Mauritius (89.1 points), Algeria (87.8 points), South Africa (86.4 points), and Seychelles (84.4 points). The top 10 is completed by Tunisia (80.1 points), Cabo Verde (79.8 points), Egypt (79.6 points), Eswatini (78.9 points), and Botswana (77.7 points). Rounding out the top 15 are Gabon (76.2 points), Ghana (75.6 points), Senegal (72.8 points), Namibia (72.2 points), and Côte d’Ivoire (72 points).