Despite mobile phones being one of the most powerful tools for connection, progress in closing the gender gap in mobile internet access is slowing and stalling in some regions.
According to the GSMA’s 2025 Mobile Gender Gap Report, women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are still 14% less likely than men to use mobile internet. That number hasn’t changed meaningfully in the last year. And while over 1.5 billion women in LMICs are now online, 885 million are still not, most of them living in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
So what’s going on? Why are we stuck?
1. Adoption is slowing, especially for women
In 2024, just 50 million women started using mobile internet, a sharp drop from the 85 million in 2023. Men’s adoption remained steady, which means the gender gap didn’t widen, but it didn’t shrink either.
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the few bright spots, where the mobile internet gender gap has narrowed for the second year. But in most other regions, things have plateaued.
2. The device gap is real
Smartphone ownership is another sticking point. Across LMICs, 61% of women own a smartphone compared to 71% of men, a 14% gender gap, translating to 230 million fewer women with smartphones.
Even more stark, 400 million women still don’t own any mobile phone at all. In many rural or conservative communities, women are more likely to borrow a device than own one, often relying on male relatives. That limits privacy, usage, and freedom to explore life-enhancing services, from mobile money to health apps.
3. It is not just about awareness, it is about access
The report shows that in most countries, women are nearly as aware of mobile internet as men. But awareness doesn’t lead to adoption. That’s because the biggest drop-off happens at the point of owning an internet-enabled phone.
For example, in Nigeria, 84% of women know about mobile internet, but only 47% own an internet-ready phone. Meanwhile, nearly every woman who owns a smartphone ends up using mobile internet. So the biggest unlock might be simpler than we think: get more smartphones into women’s hands.
4. Barriers go beyond affordability
Yes, the cost of handsets and data is a major blocker. But the picture is more complex. Women also face:
- Lower digital literacy
- Greater safety and security concerns online
- Social norms that restrict ownership or use
- Poor connectivity, especially in rural areas
Even when women get online, they use fewer services than men, sticking to communication and entertainment rather than finance, health, or education tools.
5. Why this matters, economically and socially
Closing the mobile gender gap isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s an economic opportunity. GSMA estimates that doing so would add $1.3 trillion in GDP across LMICs from now until 2030. And it’s not just about productivity: access to mobile internet supports women’s autonomy, safety, income, and ability to participate in society.
6. There’s hope, if we act deliberately
Countries like Pakistan offer proof that change is possible. In one year, Pakistan reduced its mobile internet gender gap by 13 percentage points, the largest improvement across all countries surveyed. What worked? Government strategies, telecom commitment, and a focus on rural women.
We need more of that.
So what can be done?
The report offers clear recommendations:
- Subsidize affordable smartphones and data plans
- Invest in digital skills training for women and girls
- Design safer, more private online experiences
- Promote gender-sensitive marketing and customer support
- Encourage female agents and ambassadors in mobile distribution
It’s also about mindset: treating digital inclusion as necessary, not a nice-to-have.
Final thoughts
The gender gap in mobile internet use may not be widening, but it’s not closing fast enough either. And in a world increasingly shaped by digital access, that’s a problem we can’t ignore.
This isn’t just a connectivity issue. It’s a matter of equity, opportunity, and dignity.
Let’s not let another year pass without serious progress.
📖 Full report available at GSMA Connected Women