810 Million Women Lack Mobile Internet Access in LMICs

The GSMA's 'Mobile Gender Gap Report 2026' highlights the persistent gender gap in mobile internet adoption in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite some progress, women remain 12% less likely to use mobile internet than men, resulting in 810 million women offline compared to 595 million men.

Regional disparities are notable, with over two-thirds of these women residing in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where the gender gap is widest, at 26% and 25%, respectively. Additionally, the gap is significantly wider in rural areas compared to urban regions.

The primary barriers to mobile internet access for women include affordability, particularly of mobile handsets, as well as literacy and digital skills. Social norms and structural inequalities like lower education and income exacerbate these issues.

Efforts to close this gap could potentially add $1.3 trillion to GDP by 2030, as over 50 mobile operators join initiatives to boost women's digital and financial inclusion.