Business & Finance 50+ Million: Number of Safaricom Subscribers (2025)

Safaricom has grown from 26,000 subscribers at its launch in 2000 to over 57 million in 2025.

What began as a small mobile operator in the early 2000s has expanded into a regional powerhouse, adding millions of customers every year.

Today, Safaricom is not only Kenya’s largest telecom company but also a major player in Ethiopia, with tens of millions of subscribers across both markets.

In this article, we’ll break down the latest subscriber numbers for 2025 and highlight the trends shaping Safaricom’s continued dominance in East Africa.

Top Safaricom Subscriber Statistics​

• Safaricom Kenya closed FY2025 with 48.24 million three-month active customers.
• 37.11 million one-month active customers in Kenya.
• Safaricom Ethiopia crossed 8.84 million active customers, more than doubling in a year.
• 35.82 million active M-PESA users in Kenya.
• Safaricom remains the largest telecom operator in Kenya with around 66% market share.

Historical Milestones of Safaricom (Before 2023)​

• 1999: Safaricom is licensed and formed as a department in Telkom Kenya.
• October 2000: Safaricom is officially launched.
• 2001: Vodafone PLC (UK) buys 40% of Safaricom; Michael Joseph is appointed CEO. Safaricom reaches 26,000 subscribers.
• 2002: The KShs 100 scratch card is introduced; Safaricom achieves 54% market share and reaches 2 million subscribers. Telkom's exclusivity with Safaricom ends, and Kencell is sold to Vivendi, then Celtel.
• 2004: Mobile internet is launched.
• 1 March 2007: M-PESA is launched.
• January 2007: The 'Bonga Points' loyalty program is introduced.
• 2008: Safaricom Initial Public Offering (IPO) with the government selling 25%, diluting its ownership to 35%. Kencell rebranded to Zain, and Telkom partners with Orange. Essar Telecoms, YU, enters the market.
• 2010: Bob Collymore is appointed CEO. Airtel buys Celtel (Zain). The Communication Authority assigns additional frequency spectrum resources to Zain for 3G services. Regulator implements Mobile Termination Rate (MTR) reduction to KShs 0.99, sparking a price war.
• 1 May 2011: Safaricom enters a long-term fibre contract with The East African Marine Systems Limited (TEAMS).
• 2012: Safaricom partners with NCBA Bank (formerly CBA Bank) to launch the M-Shwari savings and loan product.
• 2013: Launch of Lipa na M-PESA and Safaricom’s first Sustainability Report (a first in Kenya). Safaricom partners with GoK to launch eCitizen for online government payments. Safaricom relocates M-PESA servers from Germany to Kenya.
• 2014: Launch of 4G network.
• 2015: Safaricom becomes the first company in Kenya to link its growth strategy to the 17 UN SDGs.
• 2017: Rebrand to Twaweza “When we come together, great things happen”. Launch of Home Solutions and e-commerce.
• 2018: Launch of e-commerce – Masoko, DigiFarm, and M-PESA Global.
• December 2019: Safaricom completes a purchase of 18.96% of Circle Gas Limited, an investment treated as an associate.
• 2020: Peter Ndegwa takes over as CEO effective April 1. Michael Joseph is appointed Chairman of the Board. Launch of 'FOR YOU' customer promise. Acquisition of M-PESA brand via joint venture with Vodacom. Partnership with Visa.
• April 1, 2020: Safaricom Plc enters into a managed services agreement with M-PESA Africa Limited.
• 2021: Launch of new strategy and Agile organisation. Launch of 5G trials. Launch of device financing with Lipa Mdogo Mdogo. Awarded Telecommunications licence in Ethiopia (July 9).
• February 2022: Central Bank of Kenya launches the National Payments Strategy 2022-2025.
• 2022: M-PESA celebrates achieving 30 million monthly-active customers and 15 years of Transforming Lives. Launch of M-PESA Consumer Super App and Business App. Launch of Halal Pesa, the first Sharia-compliant digital financing product, in partnership with Gulf Bank.
• August 29, 2023: Commercial launch of operations in Ethiopia.
• October 2023: Kenya Sets up First Smartphone Assembly Plant in East Africa (East Africa Device Assembly Kenya - EADAK) through a partnership with local MNOs and international device manufacturers.
• 2023: Commercial launch of 5G Services. Launch of M-PESA Go for Teens (10–17 years). Launch of the Hustler Fund – Phase 1, in partnership with Government. Safaricom hosts the inaugural investor day in Nairobi. Adil Khawaja is appointed Chairman of the Board (December 22). Solarized over 1,400 network sites. Partnered with the government to roll out the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) on M-PESA. Launch of My County app in Makueni and Kitui Counties. International Financial Corporation (IFC) invests 7.25% in Ethiopia through the Global Partnership for Ethiopia (GPE) B.V.
• July 28, 2023: Safaricom Plc acquired the entire issued share capital of M-PESA Holding Co. Limited (MPHCL) from Vodafone International Holdings BV.

How Many Safaricom Subscribers Are There in 2025?​

According to Safaricom’s Annual Report 2025, the company has continued to grow steadily both in Kenya and Ethiopia.

• In Kenya, Safaricom had 48.24 million three-month active subscribers, up from 44.67 million in 2024. One-month active customers stood at 37.11 million, reflecting a 7.1% YoY increase.
• In Ethiopia, the relatively new market, subscriber growth has been rapid. Safaricom Ethiopia reported 8.84 million three-month active subscribers, compared to just 4.35 million the previous year — a remarkable 103% growth.

Together, Safaricom Group closed FY2025 with more than 57 million three-month active customers across both Kenya and Ethiopia.

Safaricom Subscriber Demographics​

Safaricom has historically been dominant among younger and middle-aged customers, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where data and mobile money services thrive. M-PESA remains the anchor of customer retention, with 35.82 million monthly active users in Kenya.

The company’s expansion into Ethiopia has also attracted younger, first-time mobile internet and M-PESA users, showing parallels with Safaricom’s early years in Kenya.

Safaricom Kenya vs Safaricom Ethiopia​

• Kenya remains Safaricom’s core market, generating most of its service revenue (KSh 364.3 billion in FY2025).
• Ethiopia, despite being a new entrant, has shown explosive growth. Subscribers more than doubled within a year, and M-PESA Ethiopia already counts over 2.37 million active users.

This rapid Ethiopian growth reflects Safaricom’s strategy of replicating the “M-PESA-led growth model” beyond Kenya.

Safaricom Subscriber Growth Over Time​

To put things into perspective:

• 2002: 2 million subscribers in Kenya.
• 2009: 10 million subscribers.
• 2016: 28 million subscribers.
• 2023: 33.1 million active subscribers.
• 2025: 57 million three-month active subscribers (Kenya + Ethiopia).

In short: Safaricom has grown from 26,000 subscribers at its launch in 2000 to over 57 million in 2025, making it one of Africa’s most dominant telecom companies.

Future of Safaricom Subscribers​

Looking ahead, Safaricom is betting big on three growth drivers:

1. Ethiopia – still in early stages, but already adding millions of subscribers each year.
2. M-PESA – expected to keep boosting both financial inclusion and customer stickiness.
3. 5G & Fixed Internet – with over 694,000 homes passed by fiber in Kenya, Safaricom is positioning itself as not just a mobile operator, but also a home internet leader.

Safaricom’s management projects that Ethiopia alone could contribute tens of millions of new customers over the next decade, making Safaricom a regional giant rather than just a Kenyan champion.