Progress in closing the gender gap in mobile internet adoption across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has stalled. While more women are using mobile internet than ever before, their rate of adoption has slowed in the past year and women are now 14% less likely than men to use it. This equates to 235 million fewer women than men using mobile internet. Of the 885 million women who remain unconnected, around 60% live in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The gender gaps in overall mobile ownership and smartphone ownership also remained unchanged in 2024, at 8% and 14%, respectively.

The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025 explores the latest data on mobile gender gaps, the key barriers preventing women’s equal access to and use of mobile, and the actions needed to close the mobile internet gender gap. It also highlights the socio-economic benefits of addressing these barriers for the mobile industry, the economy and society more broadly, and women themselves.

Findings from this report are based on results from over 17,000 face-to-face surveys across 15 LMICs, and subsequent modelling and analysis of this survey data.

The core data from this survey is available on request. Please email [email protected].

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