The Côte d’Ivoire has made remarkable strides in strengthening its digital economy, as highlighted in the 2026 edition of the ICT Development Index (IDI) released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Over the past year, the country elevated its national score from 69.5 points in 2025 to 72 points in 2026, marking an impressive gain of nearly 4%.
This upward trajectory underscores the tangible results of sustained investments in digital infrastructure and growing market adoption. It aligns seamlessly with the strategic priorities outlined in the National Development Plan (PND) and the National Digital Development Strategy, which prioritize digital transformation and telecom modernization as key drivers of economic growth.
On the African stage, Côte d’Ivoire solidifies its position among the continent’s digital leaders. With a score of 72 points, the nation ranks 15th in Africa, significantly outpacing the continental average of 59 points.
Breaking down the ITU’s evaluation criteria
To grasp the driving forces behind this achievement, it’s essential to examine the two foundational pillars that structure the ITU’s assessment framework. The first, ‘Universal Connectivity,’ assesses foundational digital adoption metrics, including household internet access, individual internet usage, and active mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Here, Côte d’Ivoire scores 64.9 points—well above the African average of 38.1 points.
The second pillar, ‘Meaningful Connectivity,’ evaluates operational factors such as mobile network coverage, fixed and mobile data traffic per subscription, device ownership, and the affordability of tariffs. The country secures a robust score of 79 points in this category, surpassing the regional African average of 65 points.
Côte d’Ivoire’s mobile broadband coverage stands as a key strength, with 3G and 4G/LTE networks reaching 98% and 90% of the population, respectively. Affordability remains a competitive edge: mobile data and voice plan prices represent just 1.8% of the national gross income per capita, yielding a financial accessibility score of 95.8 out of 100. Fixed high-speed broadband plans are similarly priced at 4.8% of the RNB per capita, translating to a financial accessibility index of 87 points.
In terms of market penetration, 73.1% of individuals own a mobile phone, 70.8% actively use the internet, and 58.7% of households have home internet access. Active mobile broadband subscriptions now stand at 84.1 per 100 inhabitants.
Opportunities for deeper digital engagement
Despite these milestones, certain performance indicators reveal untapped potential. Average mobile high-speed data consumption reaches 32.7 gigabytes per subscription, yielding a traffic score of 51.5 points. Fixed high-speed broadband usage averages 893.9 gigabytes per subscription, translating to a normalized score of 73.7 points. While basic connectivity and access are now firmly established, deeper digital usage and high-bandwidth consumption present significant room for growth.
Comparatively, Morocco leads the continent with an IDI score of 89.2 points, followed by Mauritius (89.1), Algeria (87.8), South Africa (86.4), and 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). Closing the top 15 are Gabon (76.2), Ghana (75.6), Senegal (72.8), Namibia (72.2), and Côte d’Ivoire (72).
