The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2019

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In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), 250 million more women now own a mobile phone than in 2014. But the mobile gender gap persists. Women are still 10% less likely than men to own a mobile and 23% less likely to use mobile internet. More must be done to address this divide to ensure women do not get left behind.

The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2019 reveals how the mobile gender gap is changing in LMICs, as well as ranking the factors preventing equal mobile ownership and mobile internet use for men and women, and outlining the commercial and economic opportunity that closing the mobile gender gap represents.

Findings from this report are based on the results of over 20,000 face-to-face surveys commissioned by GSMA Intelligence across 18 low- and middle-income countries, and subsequent modelling and analysis of this survey data.

Reportaje en EspañolRapport en FrançaisBlog Methodology Report 2019

Regional Resources

The Mobile Gender Gap in Sub-Saharan Africa (2019)

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has one of the widest mobile gender gaps of any region. In this fact sheet learn the key mobile gender gap statistics, the top barriers to mobile ownership and mobile internet use, and the actions needed to close the mobile gender gap in SSA.

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The Mobile Gender Gap in Asia (2019)

The mobile gender gap varies greatly across Asia. South Asia has the largest mobile gender gap of any region worldwide, while the most digitally mature LMICs in East Asia & Pacific have more equal levels of mobile ownership and use. In this fact sheet learn the key mobile gender gap statistics, the top barriers to mobile ownership and mobile internet use, and the actions needed to close the mobile gender gap in Asia.

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Figure 1

Gender gap in mobile ownership in low- and middle-income
countries, by region
Base: Total adult population


Gender Gap figure 1

Source: GSMA Intelligence, 2018
Based on survey results and modelled data for adults aged 18+.

Figure 2

Gender gap in mobile internet use in low- and middle-income
countries, by region
Base: Total adult population


Gender Gap Figure 2

Source: GSMA Intelligence, 2018
Based on survey results and modelled data for adults aged 18+.


In our recent webinar entitled, ‘Understanding the Mobile Gender Gap in 2019’, Oliver Rowntree, Senior Insights Manager for the Connected Women programme and author of the report, shares the main findings, analysis and recommendations. Recordings are also available in French and Spanish.
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Mobile Gender Gap Report 2018

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The GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2019 has been ranked in the top 3 of the best free mobile tech reports in 2019 by IT Research Finder.

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