Mobile’s impact on the SDGs in Latin America
Between 2015 and 2023, the number of mobile internet subscribers in Latin America grew by over 60%, fuelling the mobile industry’s contribution to the SDGs. However, more than 35% of the region’s population remain unconnected to mobile internet. Closing the coverage and usage gaps is therefore crucial to maximising mobile’s impact on the SDGs in the region.
In Latin America, some of the biggest improvement in SDG impact scores since 2015 has come from SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 4: Quality Education. There has been a substantial improvement in mobile impact score for both SDGs since 2020, illustrating the pivotal role mobile played in enabling essential activities to continue during the pandemic. Progress has also been made on SDG 5: Gender Equality, reflecting high levels of mobile ownership among women and a small gender gap.
SDG mobile impact scores, Latin America
Source: GSMA Intelligence
Key drivers of SDG mobile impact scores
Mobile broadband coverage and penetration, Latin America
Source: GSMA Intelligence
| 2015 | 2023 | 2015 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile broadband coverage (% of total population) | 530 million | 630 million | 85% | 94% |
| Mobile penetration (% of total population) | 320 million | 460 million | 51% | 69% |
| Mobile internet penetration (% of total population) | 230 million | 410 million | 36% | 61% |
Mobile usage by activity, Latin America
Source: GSMA Intelligence
| Use cases | 2015 | 2023 | 2015 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watch videos | 140 million | 360 million | 44% | 79% |
| Use social media | 200 million | 350 million | 62% | 78% |
| Make video calls | 180 million | 330 million | 58% | 72% |
| Search for information | 180 million | 320 million | 56% | 71% |
| Read news | 170 million | 320 million | 50% | 71% |
| Access information to support training, learning or education | 65 million | 280 million | 21% | 61% |
| Use mobile financial services | 25 million | 220 million | 7% | 47% |
| Access government services/ information | 25 million | 210 million | 8% | 47% |
| Access health services/ information | 55 million | 210 million | 17% | 47% |
| Access information to help with work or job | 50 million | 200 million | 16% | 44% |
| Buy goods or services | 65 million | 200 million | 20% | 44% |
| Manage or pay bills | 15 million | 180 million | 5% | 40% |
| Use agricultural services | 25 million | 30 million | 8% | 6% |