Mobile Gender Gap Persists: 810 Million Women in LMICs Still Lack Internet Access — The GSM Association

Event summary

810 million women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) still lack mobile internet access, compared to 595 million men.
The gender gap in mobile internet adoption narrowed slightly in 2025, but women are still 12% less likely to use mobile internet than men.
Over two-thirds of these women live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with gender gaps in mobile internet adoption at 26% and 25%, respectively.
The gender gap in smartphone ownership in LMICs is 13%, with 210 million fewer women than men owning smartphones.
Closing the gender gap in mobile internet adoption in LMICs from 2023 to 2030 could add $1.3 trillion in GDP.

The big picture

The persistent gender gap in mobile internet adoption highlights structural inequalities in LMICs, where women face disproportionate barriers due to affordability, literacy, and digital skills. As the world becomes increasingly digital, the gap risks exacerbating economic and social inequities, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to ensure digital inclusion for all. The potential $1.3 trillion GDP boost from closing this gap by 2030 underscores the strategic importance of addressing these disparities.

What we're watching

Regulatory Headwinds: How governments in LMICs will address affordability, literacy, and digital skills barriers to close the gender gap.
Market Dynamics: Whether mobile operators can sustain efforts to reach additional women with mobile internet or mobile money services.
Economic Impact: The pace at which closing the gender gap in mobile internet adoption will translate into tangible GDP growth.