This document details the methodology behind The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2021. This report from the GSMA is part of an annual series analysing the gender gap in mobile ownership and mobile internet use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This accompanying methodology report describes the analysis and modelling we used and highlights key methodological changes from previous years.

This document is designed as a supplement to the main report and includes:

1. The parameters of the GSMA Consumer Survey 2020, on which the findings of this study are based. The survey covered eight LMICs in 2020, supplemented by 2017, 2018 and 2019 survey results from 20 additional countries.  The 28 countries covered by the four waves of the GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey collectively represent 7% of the total adult population of all LMICs.
2. Extrapolation models, which provide estimates of gender gaps in mobile ownership, mobile internet use and smartphone ownership in LMICs not included in the GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey.
3. The analytical approaches used to investigate the results of survey questions on mobile use, and the barriers preventing mobile ownership and mobile internet use.
4. The details of qualitative research conducted to support the findings of the GSMA Consumer Survey 2020 in the context of COVID-19 in two of the surveyed countries: India and Kenya.

Click here to visit the Mobile Gender Gap Report microsite and download the main report and other resources.