GSMA The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2020

Connected Women
The Mobile Gender Gap

Report 2020
Copyright © 2020 GSM Association

GSMA Connected Women
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400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, to women accessing and using mobile internet and mobile
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equipment providers and internet companies, as well as gender gap in mobile internet and mobile money services
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This document has been financed by the Swedish

International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida.
This material has been funded by UK aid from the UK Sida does not necessarily share the views expressed in
government; however the views expressed do not this material. Responsibility for its contents rests entirely
necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. with the author.
Lead author: Oliver Rowntree Supporting author: Matthew Shanahan

Contributors: Kalvin Bahia, Caroline Butler, Dominica Lindsey, Claire Sibthorpe
Fieldwork partner: Ipsos
Published March 2020

GSMA CONNECTED WOMEN – THE MOBILE GENDER GAP REPORT 2020
CONTENTS
Introduction 2
Key findings 3
The mobile gender gap in 2020 8
The journey to mobile internet use 12
The persistent gender gap in mobile ownership 14
Smartphone ownership: sizing the gender gap 20
Growing awareness of mobile internet 28
Mobile internet use by women 30
Understanding women’s mobile use 35
Recommendations 39
Appendix 1: Barriers to mobile ownership and mobile internet use 43
Appendix 2: Methodology 52
Introduction
The evolution of the mobile gender gap
In 2020, connectivity is more important than ever. and women feel safer, provides access to important
Internet access is a gateway to critical information, information for the first time and supports them in work
services and opportunities available to many and study. Earlier GSMA research found that, over five
people for the first time. Growth in internet access years, closing the gender gap in mobile internet use
has been remarkable in low- and middle-income in LMICs could deliver an additional USD 700 billion in
countries (LMICs), where 2.9 billion people now GDP growth, while closing the gender gap in mobile
access the internet on their mobile phones.1 Across ownership and use in LMICs could deliver $140 billion in
developing countries, mobile is the primary way most additional revenue to the mobile industry.3
people access the internet, with mobile broadband
connections comprising 87 per cent of total broadband This third edition of The Mobile Gender Gap Report
connections. 2 will consider how women’s mobile access and use
are changing, and how efforts to reach women with
Despite its importance, mobile access and use remain technology should evolve alongside. This report
unequal. Across LMICs, women are still eight per cent provides:
less likely than men to own a mobile phone, and 20
per cent less likely to use the internet on a mobile. • Updated figures on gender gaps in mobile
This means that in these markets 300 million fewer ownership and mobile internet use in LMICs and
women than men use mobile internet. A key barrier is how these are changing;
smartphone ownership, which is also 20 per cent lower • For the first time, figures for the smartphone gender
for women than for men. gap across LMICs, and how this is limiting women’s
internet access and use;
However, there is promising evidence that the widest • A review of the barriers to mobile ownership and
gender gaps are beginning to close. In South Asia, the mobile internet use and how these have changed;
mobile internet gender gap has narrowed from 67 per and
cent in 2017 to 51 per cent in 2019, bringing another • Evidence of the impact of mobile access and use on
78 million women online. Much work remains, but this women’s and men’s lives.
suggests mobile gender gaps can be reduced and the
benefits of connectivity distributed more equally. The findings of this report are sourced from the annual
GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey, which in 2019 had
It is critical that the mobile gender gap is understood over 16,000 respondents from 15 LMICs. Analysis of
and overcome, as mobile ownership and use provides other research and data from the GSMA, and a range
life-changing benefits to women, their families, of other organisations that investigate and track the
communities and the economy. This research has found mobile gender gap, also inform the findings of this
that mobile ownership makes the majority of men report.
1. GSMA Intelligence, Q4 2019

2. ITU (2019), www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx
3. GSMA (2019), The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2019
2
Key findings
1.
54 per cent of women in low- and middle-income 6. Smartphones drive substantially higher mobile
countries now use mobile internet and the internet use, but there is a significant gender gap
gender gap is narrowing. Women are 20 per cent in smartphone ownership, with women in low-
less likely to use mobile internet than men, down and middle-income countries 20 per cent less
from 27 per cent in 2017. This reduction was driven likely than men to own one. Women are much less
primarily by an improvement in South Asia where likely than men to purchase their own smartphone,
the gap narrowed by 16 percentage points. and have less autonomy and agency in smartphone
acquisition. However, many women express a
2.
Despite this progress, the gender gap in mobile strong intention to acquire a smartphone.
internet use in low- and middle-income countries
remains substantial, with over 300 million fewer 7.
Among mobile owners, women on average use
women than men accessing the internet on a a smaller range of services in all 15 countries
mobile. The gender gap is still widest in South Asia surveyed — a gap that remains even among
at 51 per cent, and remains fairly consistent in other smartphone owners. Bringing women’s mobile
regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, which has the use in line with men’s represents an important
second largest gender gap at 37 per cent. commercial opportunity for the mobile industry
to drive ARPU5 growth and extend more of the
3. The underlying gender gap in mobile ownership benefits of mobile ownership to women.
remains largely unchanged, with the remaining
unconnected proving difficult to reach. Women 8. Consumption of video content on mobile is
across low- and middle-income countries are growing remarkably quickly for both men and
eight per cent less likely than men to own a mobile women, increasing by over 50 percent in two
phone, which translates into 165 million fewer years in half of surveyed countries.6 This reflects
women than men owning a mobile. the growing popularity of applications that
facilitate sharing of user-generated video content
4. The relative importance of the factors preventing in low- and middle-income countries, such as
access to mobile internet are changing rapidly YouTube and TikTok.
across low- and middle-income countries.
For both men and women, awareness of mobile 9. Both men and women across surveyed
internet is growing quickly, although it remains markets report that mobile provides important
unequal, and women and men are increasingly benefits. In all 15 markets surveyed, the majority
seeing the internet as relevant to their lives. of male and female mobile owners state that
mobile ownership makes them feel safer and
5. Handset affordability remains the primary provides access to important information that not
barrier to mobile phone ownership for men and only assists them in their daily lives, but that they
women. Among mobile users who are aware would not have received otherwise. Benefits are
of mobile internet, a lack of literacy and digital considerably greater for those who use mobile
skills continues to be the main barrier to use,4 internet, reinforcing the importance of equalising
followed by affordability. Safety concerns are also a internet access.
key barrier to mobile internet access, particularly in
Latin America. Although relevance has declined in
importance as a barrier, it remains a critical factor in
several countries.
4. Refers to the top barriers to mobile internet for respondents who had used a mobile phone in the last three months and were aware of mobile internet, but had not used it.
5. Average revenue per user
6. Based on results from 12 countries surveyed for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Mobile Gender Gap Reports.
3
GSMA CONNECTED WOMEN – THE MOBILE GENDER GAP REPORT 2020 GSMA CONNECTED WOMEN – THE MOBILE GENDER GAP REPORT 2020
IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES:
54%
The mobile internet gender gap is closing. Women are
20%
Women are now Awareness
20%
of mobile internet is less
of women now use mobile internet.
less growing quickly likely
likely than men to own a smartphone
But the gender gap remains substantial. than men to use mobile internet, for both men and women,
300M
down from and in many
27%
although it remains countries have
less autonomy and
unequal agency in smartphone
fewer women than men in 2017 acquisition
access mobile internet
8%
South Asia has the widest
mobile internet gender gap at
Women are Among mobile owners, Consumption of video content
51%
women use a on mobile has increased by over
smaller
50%
less
likely
but has also seen the

largest reduction,
than men to own a mobile
165 million
range
down by 16% since 2017 of mobile services in 2 years in half of surveyed countries
fewer women than men own a mobile
Mobile ownership Mobile internet use Across surveyed countries, the majority Addressing the mobile gender gap is an
Key barriers for women Key barriers for women who of male and female owners report that important way to contribute to the
are aware of mobile internet UN Sustainable Development Goals
1. Affordability 1. Literacy and skills owning a mobile makes

them feel safer
2. Literacy and skills 2. Affordability
3. Safety and security 3. Safety and security and helps them in
4. Family does not approve 4. Relevance their day-to-day lives
BARRIER IMPORTANCE INCREASED SINCE 2018 | BARRIER IMPORTANCE DECREASED SINCE 2018
4 5
6
DEFINITIONS FOR THIS REPORT
GENDER GAP
The gender gap in mobile phone ownership and mobile internet use is
calculated using the following formula:
Male owners / users Female owners / users

(% of male population) (% of female population)
=
Gender gap in
ownership / use (%)
Male owners / users
(% of male population)
MOBILE OWNER
“Mobile phone owner” and “mobile owner” are used interchangeably in
this report to mean a person who has sole or main use of a SIM card or
a mobile phone that does not require a SIM, and uses it at least once a
month. The vast majority of SIM owners also have sole or main use of a
handset (an average of 95 per cent across the sample countries).
SMARTPHONE OWNER
A mobile owner that has sole or primary use of a smartphone. A
smartphone is a mobile phone with a touchscreen display, an advanced
operating system (Android or iOS) and the ability to download apps
from an online app store, such as Google Play or the App Store.
UNCONNECTED
“Unconnected” or “unconnected population” refers to people who are
not mobile owners, as defined above.
MOBILE INTERNET USER

A “mobile internet user” is a person who has used the internet on a
mobile phone at least once in the last three months.7 Mobile internet
users do not have to personally own a mobile phone, and therefore can
be non-mobile phone owners who use mobile internet by accessing it
on someone else’s mobile phone.
7. Respondents were asked the question: “Have you ever used the internet on a mobile phone? Please think about all the different ways of using the internet on a mobile phone. Just to
confirm, people are using the internet on their mobile phones when they do any of the following: visit internet websites (e.g. Google or Amazon), visit social networking websites (e.g.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Weibo), send emails or instant messages (e.g. WhatsApp, Snapchat, WeChat, LINE) or download apps.” Mobile internet users are those who answered,
“Yes, I have used the internet on a mobile phone in the last three months.”
7
The mobile gender gap

in 2020
This report marks the third edition of the GSMA’s marginalised populations in LMICs, and equal access
annual Mobile Gender Gap report series, and also to mobile has become ever more important to
builds on the findings of previous reports published ensuring women and men experience the benefits of
on the subject in 2010 and 2015. Over this time, mobile mobile equally and that existing inequalities are not
has played an increasingly vital role in empowering exacerbated.
There is still a mobile gender gap, but progress

is being made in some regions
Despite the growing importance of connectivity, there 27 per cent, bringing an additional 236 million
is still a considerable mobile gender gap in 2020. women online.
Across LMICs, women are eight per cent less likely
than men to own a mobile phone. While this is a slight As shown in Figure 1, trends have not been uniform
reduction from the 10 per cent gender gap in previous across regions. South Asia, where the mobile gender
years, it is proving a difficult gap to close. gap is consistently the widest, has driven most of the
reductions in the mobile internet gender gap. Over 78
The gap widens significantly for mobile internet use. million more women have come online in South Asia
Women are still 20 per cent less likely than men to in the last three years, while in other regions, most
use the internet on a mobile phone. However, some notably Sub-Saharan Africa, considerably less progress
progress has been made. Over the three years studied, has been made.
the mobile internet gender gap has narrowed from
8
Figure 1
Regional gender gaps in mobile ownership and mobile internet use,

2017-2019
REGIONAL GENDER GAPS IN REGIONAL GENDER GAPS IN MOBILE

MOBILE OWNERSHIP 2017-2019 INTERNET USE 2017-2019
1% 5%
East Asia &
Pacific 2% 4%
1% 3%
2% 6%
Latin America &
Caribbean 1% 2%
1% 1%
-1% 6%
Europe & 6%
-1%
Central Asia
-1% 5%
8% 20%
Middle East &
North Africa
9% 19%
9% 21%
13% 37%
Sub-Saharan
Africa 13% 38%
13% 37%
27% 67%
South Asia 28% 58%
23% 51%
9% 27%
LMICs overall 10% 23%
8% 20%
2017 2018 2019
Source: GSMA Intelligence, 2019

Mobile ownership is defined as having sole or main use of a SIM card (or a mobile phone that does not require a SIM), and using it at least
once a month.
Mobile internet use is defined as having used the internet on a mobile phone at least once in the last three months.
Mobile internet users do not have to personally own a mobile phone. The gender gap in mobile ownership and mobile internet use refers to
how much less likely a woman is to own a mobile (or to use mobile internet) than a man.
Regional averages were calculated from country-level data.
Based on survey results and modelled data for adults aged 18+.
9
10
Box 1:
Country-level trends in mobile ownership and mobile internet use
There are significant variations within regions in overall mobile ownership, mobile internet use and the
magnitude of the gender gap. In general, markets with lower levels of mobile ownership tend to have wider
gender gaps in mobile ownership and mobile internet use. Of all surveyed countries, Mozambique has the
lowest level of ownership, with only 46 per cent of women owning a mobile phone compared to 56 per
cent of men. Of the countries surveyed, the widest gender gap is still in Pakistan, where women are 38 per
cent less likely than men to own a mobile and 49 per cent less likely to use mobile internet.
Figure 2
Male and female mobile ownership and mobile internet use by country
Percentage of total adult population
MOBILE OWNERS (%) GENDER GAP MOBILE INTERNET USERS (%) GENDER GAP
Algeria
92% 68%
86% 6% 55% 19%
91% 49%
Kenya 86% 5% 32% 34%
Mozambique 56% 27%
46% 17% 17% 39%
AFRICA
89% 54%
Nigeria
83% 7% 38% 29%
73% 46%
Senegal
71% 4% 13% 37% 19%
89% 67%
South Africa 83% 7% 58% 13%
84% 24%
Uganda
69% 17% 13% 48%
86% 33%
Bangladesh
61% 29% 16% 52%
79% 42%
India 63% 20% 21% 50%
ASIA
80% 49%
Indonesia 72% 10% 42% 14%
Myanmar
78% 58%
68% 14% 41% 30%
Pakistan
81% 37%
50% 38% 19% 49%
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil 84% 72%

85% -1% 74% -3%
79% 65%
Guatemala 71% 11% 55% 15%
86% 71%
Mexico
84% 2% 72% -1%
Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey, 2019

Base: Total population aged 18+
A mobile owner is defined as a person who has sole or main use of a SIM card (or a mobile phone that does
not require a SIM), and uses it at least once a month.
Mobile internet users do not have to personally own a mobile phone. The gender gap in mobile ownership
and mobile internet use refers to how much less likely a woman is to own a mobile (or to use mobile internet)
X% = Gender Gap than a man.
n= from 496 to 1,099 for women and n= from 474 to 1,279 for men
Beyond national variations, there are also differences between urban and rural areas. In every country
surveyed except Algeria and Brazil, the mobile ownership gender gap is widest in rural areas. For example, in
Uganda there is a four per cent urban gender gap in mobile ownership while in rural areas it is over five times
that, at 22 per cent. The situation is similar for mobile internet. For example, in Senegal, women in urban areas
are 11 per cent less likely than men to use mobile internet, compared to 32 per cent in rural areas.
11
The journey to mobile

internet use
Internet access in LMICs is growing quickly,
driven by mobile
A basic mobile phone can be an empowering tool, a high proportion of respondents were found to access the
enabling easier communication and information sharing, internet exclusively on a mobile, particularly in Africa and
and connecting family and friends wherever they live. Asia. The median proportion of internet users accessing
The proliferation of basic mobile phones in LMICs has it exclusively on mobile is 69 per cent, ranging from 43
been unprecedented, and facilitated the growth of crucial per cent in Mexico to 95 per cent in Myanmar. In only two
services like mobile money and the dissemination of countries do over five per cent of internet users access the
important government and health-related information via internet exclusively on other, non-mobile devices.9
SMS and USSD.
Mobile has become increasingly important to internet
The widespread availability of mobile in LMICs is access as smartphones have become more available
noteworthy since mobile has become the primary and affordable. Indeed, unequal access to smartphones
way most people access the internet. According to the for women is a primary contributor to the gender gap
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 87 per cent in mobile internet access. Across LMICs, women are 20
of broadband connections in developing countries are per cent less likely to own a smartphone, which closely
mobile,8 and across the 15 countries surveyed in this study, mirrors the overall mobile internet gender gap.
The gender gap widens at each stage of the mobile internet user journey
Acquiring, using and learning about digital services is not This report examines each stage of the mobile internet
necessarily a linear process. Nevertheless, certain key user journey (see Figure 3) and where the greatest
stages and milestones can pose barriers to regular and barriers to equal mobile access and use emerge for
diverse mobile use, which delivers the greatest benefits women. It will also consider the importance of handset
to men and women in LMICs. Typically, the gender gap type and how smartphone acquisition should be
widens along each stage of the user journey; it is smallest understood within this wider journey.
for mobile ownership and increases for mobile internet
adoption and regular use.
8. ITU (2019), www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx

9. In Algeria, 5.5 per cent of internet users accessed the internet exclusively on devices other than mobile, and this figure was 9.3 per cent in Mozambique.
12
Figure 3
The mobile internet user journey
1 2 3 4
Mobile Awareness of Mobile internet Regular mobile
ownership mobile internet adoption internet use
13
The persistent gender

gap in mobile ownership
Growth in women’s mobile ownership has
slowed considerably, which makes closure of the
gender gap unlikely in the near future
The first stage in the mobile internet user journey educated, rural and female. As we consider how
is mobile ownership. Across LMICs, 82 per cent services can be delivered over mobile, it is essential to
of women now own a mobile phone. Despite not overlook these groups.
a perception that mobile ownership is near
universal, over 390 million women in LMICs remain As shown in Figure 4, the mobile ownership gender
unconnected, which translates to a gender gap of gap varies significantly between regions. It remains
eight per cent. pronounced in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa,
but is considerably smaller in the more developed
Growth in mobile ownership among women has regions of Latin America, Europe and Central Asia,
slowed considerably, remaining nearly constant since and East Asia and Pacific. In fact, in several countries
2017. As detailed in The Mobile Gender Gap Report in these regions, the rate of mobile ownership is
2019, the unconnected are disproportionately less slightly higher for women than men.
14
Figure 4
Gender gap in mobile ownership in low- and middle-income

countries, by region
Base: Total adult population
OVERALL
Europe &
Central Asia
Mobile ownership
82% rate for women
Middle East &
92%
Gender gap in North Africa
8% mobile ownership
82% -1%
Women
393m unconnected
9% 14m
East Asia &
Pacific
23m
95%
1%
Latin America &

Caribbean South
44m
Asia
Sub-Saharan
86% Africa
65%
74%
1% 23%
13%
30m 207m Gender gap
74m
-1% 51%

The gender gap refers to how less likely a woman is to own a mobile than a man.
once a month.
15
Barriers to mobile ownership are consistent for

men and women, and affordability is the most
important consideration
To identify the main factors preventing women and affordability was the primary barrier to mobile
men in LMICs from owning and using a mobile phone, ownership, followed by literacy and digital skills.
respondents were asked three sets of questions: However, in many markets, among those who are
unconnected, a smaller proportion reported they did
Barriers to mobile ownership – asked of those who
• not know how to use a mobile phone, while a larger
did not own a mobile phone. proportion reported that literacy was a key barrier,
Awareness of mobile internet – asked of those
• particularly men in Asian markets.
who had never used mobile internet. They were
asked if they were aware of the internet and Safety and security was the third most important
whether it can be used on a mobile phone.10 barrier and a particular issue in Latin America.
Barriers to mobile internet – asked of those who
• Relevance was the fourth most important barrier
had used a mobile phone in the last three months for men, although it has declined in importance for
and were aware of mobile internet, but have not both men and women in many markets as people
used it in the last three months. increasingly feel that mobile ownership is relevant to
their lives, despite not owning a phone. Lack of family
Across surveyed countries, the main barriers to mobile approval was a major impediment for women in several
ownership were fairly consistent between men and markets, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria.11
women and over time (Table 1). As in 2018, handset
10. The proportion of adults considered aware of mobile internet was calculated by summing those who reported ever having used mobile internet, and those who reported not ever
using it, but being aware of the internet and that it can be used on a mobile phone (i.e. it is assumed those who have used mobile internet are aware of it).
11. In these countries, 35 per cent, 22 per cent and 11 per cent of unconnected women, respectively, cited family disapproval as the most important barrier preventing them from owning a
mobile phone.
16
Table 1
Top barriers to mobile ownership for men and women in surveyed

Based on the single most important barrier to mobile phone ownership identified by non-mobile owners, averaged across
surveyed markets
Total Africa Asia Latin America

Ranking
Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men
Affordability Affordability Affordability Affordability Literacy Literacy Affordability Safety and

1 and skills and skills security
Literacy Literacy Literacy Literacy Affordability Affordability Safety and Affordability

2 and skills and skills and skills and skills security
Safety and Safety and Family does Safety and Relevance Relevance Literacy and Literacy
3 security security not approve security skills and skills
Family does Relevance Safety and Network Family does Safety and Relevance Relevance
4 not approve security coverage not approve security
Key:
Barrier importance has increased since 2018
Barrier importance has decreased since 2018

Base: Non-mobile owners aged 18+
once a month.
Percentages indicate the proportion of non-mobile owners who responded, “This is the most important reason stopping me” to the
question, “Which one of those factors would you say is the single most important reason stopping you from having a mobile phone or SIM
card, connected to a mobile operator’s network?”
Regional barriers were calculated by averaging country-level data for the 14 countries surveyed for which sample size for men and women
was over 30.
Additional information on country-level barriers to mobile ownership can be found in Appendix 1.
17
Box 2:
The benefits of mobile ownership
Across the countries surveyed, a large majority of male and female mobile owners agreed that mobile
ownership delivered substantial benefits (see Figure 5). In all but three countries, over 60 per cent of mobile
owners stated the device made them feel safer, helped them with their day-to-day work and provided
access to information they would not have otherwise. Two exceptions were Mexico and Brazil, where the
proportion of respondents reporting that mobile ownership made them feel safer were lower than other
markets, confirming the importance of mobile-related safety concerns in Latin America.12 In general, men
felt the benefits of mobile somewhat more strongly than women, perhaps a reflection of the differences in
usage patterns between male and female mobile owners. This reinforces the importance of reducing this
gender gap.
Figure 5
The benefits of mobile ownership, reported by men and women

in 15 surveyed countries
Percentage of mobile owners across the 15 surveyed countries who agree mobile ownership helps them with
the following:
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
Key:
20% Max
Median
10% Min
0%
MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE
In their day-to-day work, studies Makes them feel safer Access to useful information that
or household chores is otherwise hard to get

Base: Mobile owners aged 18+
A mobile owner is defined as a person who has sole or main use of a SIM card (or a mobile phone that does not require a
SIM), and uses it at least once a month.
Mobile internet use cases were asked of mobile owners who had used the internet before.
n = 253 to 693 for women and n = 284 to 1,006 for men
12. The third exception is Pakistan, where 55 per cent of male mobile owners and 53 per cent of female mobile owners reported that owning a mobile phone gives them access to useful
information they would not otherwise be able to access easily, and 58 per cent of female mobile owners reported that owning a mobile phone helped them with their daily tasks.
18
19
Smartphone ownership:
sizing the gender gap
The type of mobile device one uses has a major priority for the mobile industry and others, and
impact on how they use the internet. Although it is driving smartphone uptake is critical to future ARPU
possible to access the internet on a feature phone, growth for mobile operators. However, women in
internet use is typically much richer, more regular and LMICs are still 20 per cent less likely than men to own
varied on a smartphone. For the first time, the GSMA a smartphone, a considerably wider gender gap than
has evaluated and sized the smartphone gender for mobile ownership overall.
gap in LMICs, and the findings reveal the critical
importance of smartphones in the mobile internet Indeed, in all Asian and African countries surveyed
customer journey. for this report, women are significantly less likely than
men to own a smartphone. Even in markets with a
Across LMICs, 1.2 billion women now own a relatively small mobile gender gap, such as Algeria
smartphone. This marks a rapid increase in these where the mobile ownership gender gap is just six
markets, where female smartphone ownership has per cent, the gap widens significantly for smartphone
grown from 44 per cent to 55 per cent since 2017. ownership, with 55 per cent of women owning a
Delivering services over a smartphone is a growing smartphone compared to 68 per cent of men.
20
Figure 6
Share of population by type of handset owned

68% 2% 20%
Algeria
55% 2% 26%
22% 6% 27%
Mozambique
18% 4% 24%
AFRICA
48% 16% 24%

Nigeria
39% 15% 27%
19% 27% 34%

Uganda
13% 20% 32%
36% 31% 19%

Bangladesh
21% 26% 13%
37% 9% 29%
India
14% 6% 31%
ASIA
69% 1% 6%
Myanmar
55% 1% 8%
37% 7% 39%
Pakistan
20% 6% 23%
65% 4% 10%
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil
65% 8% 8%
58% 3% 15%
Guatemala
48% 3% 14%
Smartphone
Feature phone
Basic phone

Respondents are categorised according to their most advanced device owned, and can only be included in one category. Smartphone
owners that also own a basic or feature phone are counted only as smartphone owners.
Device owners included only if they have an active SIM, or a mobile phone that functions without a SIM.
Note, the total percentage of device owners does not match the percentage of phone owners in Figure 2. Figure 2 captures people
who have the sole or main use of a SIM card whereas Figure 6 is device specific.
21
Smartphones are critical to uptake of mobile

internet
The gender gap in smartphone ownership is even These factors translate into far higher levels of mobile
more significant in the context of the mobile internet use for smartphone owners. Across the 15 countries
user journey. Whereas the first stage of the journey — surveyed in this study, smartphone owners on average
mobile ownership — can include a more basic device, engaged in 8.7 different types of mobile use cases on
smartphone owners are much more likely to progress a weekly basis compared to 2.8 for owners of basic
through the other stages (see Figure 7). or feature phones. Crucially, once women acquire
smartphones, many of the other mobile gender gaps
In all countries surveyed for this report, over 93 per are corrected for: women’s mobile internet awareness
cent of smartphone owners were aware of mobile and use, mobile money adoption and wider mobile
internet. However, among those who did not own use all more closely resemble rates for men. Although
smartphones,13 awareness levels ranged from 37 per it is not necessarily the case that future smartphone
cent in Indonesia to 82 per cent in Algeria. Moreover, owners will change their behaviour accordingly,
uptake of mobile internet was over 80 per cent driving smartphone acquisition and uptake by women
among smartphone owners in every market except should nonetheless be considered as a primary
Bangladesh.14 objective for those addressing gender gaps in other
areas, including financial inclusion.
13. Includes non-mobile owners and basic and feature phone owners.
14. 73 per cent of smartphone owners in Bangladesh use mobile internet.
22
Figure 7
Mobile internet user journey by handset type
1 2 3 4
Mobile Awareness of Mobile internet Regular mobile
ownership mobile internet adoption internet use
Type of device % of device owners that are % of device owners that use Average number of weekly
owned aware of mobile internet mobile internet mobile internet use cases
used by device owners
35-87% 0-33% 0-0.7
33-86% 4-30% 0-0.9

Basic phone
54-95% 5-89% 0.2-4.8
66-100% 18-75% 0.5-4.3

Feature
phone
3.2-7.3
87-99% 67-96%
3.8-7.8
94-100% 82-98%
Smartphone
KEY
The lowest and highest
proportion of male (or female)
X-Y% X-Y The lowest and highest
average number of mobile
device type owners reaching internet use cases, across
this stage of the user journey, countries
across countries
Distribution of country-level results, lowest to highest

Base: Basic phone, feature phone and smartphone owners aged 18+
Respondents are categorised according to their most advanced device owned, and can only be included in one category. Smartphone
owners that also own a basic or feature phone are counted only as smartphone owners.
Respondents may have engaged in some use cases on a phone other than their own. Internet-based use cases were asked only of those
who reported having used the internet on a mobile or other device in the past.
n = from 40 to 345 for female basic phone owners, from 32 to 365 for male basic phone owners, from 33 to 137 for female feature phone
owners, from 37 to 159 for male feature phone owners, from 70 to 351 for female smartphone owners, and from 87 to 487 for male
smartphone owners.
Results for feature phone owners in eight countries excluded due to unweighted sample sizes below 30. The countries excluded were:
Algeria, Brazil, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Senegal and South Africa.
23
The path to smartphone adoption: women are less likely than men to acquire their own devices
Given the strong link between smartphone ownership purchased their own smartphone and some markets
and digital inclusion, it is critical to understand how showed a substantial disparity — a sign of women’s
women acquire smartphones and why ownership levels lack of financial autonomy in this crucial milestone of
are so much lower than for men. the user journey. For example, in Bangladesh, 83 per
cent of male smartphone owners purchased their own
Across the markets surveyed in this report, female device compared to only 49 per cent of women. In
smartphone owners are significantly less likely to have Senegal, this figure is 68 per cent for male smartphone
controlled their smartphone purchase (see Figure 8). In owners and 26 per cent for women.
every country surveyed, a lower proportion of women
Figure 8
Share of smartphone owners who purchased their own device, by

gender
Percentage of smartphone owners
84%
Algeria 49%
88%
Kenya 70%
81%
Mozambique 58%
AFRICA
87%
Nigeria 69%
68%
Senegal 26%
84%
South Africa 75%
86%
Uganda
50%
83%
Bangladesh
49%
90%
India 63%
ASIA
91%
Indonesia 86%
72%
Myanmar 45%
90%
Pakistan
42%
81%
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil 71%
80%
Guatemala
55%
83%
Mexico 66%

Base: Smartphone owners aged 18+
n= from 70 to 351 for women and n= from 87 to 487 for men
24
25
Encouragingly, a relatively equal proportion of men This may imply that the smartphone gender gap is on
and women intend to acquire a smartphone (see Figure the cusp of narrowing, but women’s lack of agency
9). Among those who do not own a smartphone, more in purchasing decisions may be a barrier to achieving
men than women intend to purchase a smartphone this. However, the equality of purchase intentions in
over the next six months. However, if the men and markets with traditionally pronounced gender gaps is
women surveyed purchase smartphones in line with noteworthy, and presents a clear opportunity for the
their reported intentions, the smartphone gender gap mobile industry.
would be reduced in 11 of the 15 surveyed markets.
Figure 9
Intention to purchase a smartphone, by gender

Percentage of non-smartphone owners that intend to acquire a smartphone in the next six months
50% 50%
44%
35% 35%
32%
29% 29%
27% 26%
26%
24%
20% 20%
18% 18%
16% 16% 16% 17%
15%
14%
10% 9%
9% 8%
5% 6%
4% 4%
Algeria
Kenya
Mozambique
Nigeria
Senegal
South Africa
Uganda
Bangladesh
India
Indonesia
Myanmar
Pakistan
Brazil
Guatemala
Mexico
AFRICA ASIA LATIN AMERICA

Base: Non-smartphone owners aged 18+
26
Box 3:
How the emergence of the smart feature phone is benefitting women
As smartphones become more available, mobile is playing a greater role in providing internet access and
supporting wider digital inclusion. Nonetheless, even as prices decline, low-cost smartphones are still an
unaffordable luxury for many people in LMICs, especially women whose lower income levels and financial
autonomy limit their ability to purchase a smartphone independently. However, an emergent category of
devices is helping to bridge the gap. Known as “smart feature phones”, because while they do not share the
full capabilities of a smartphone and maintain the basic form factor of a feature phone, they typically allow for
the installation of popular apps, such as Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp. Some connect to LTE15 networks
to provide a much faster and more satisfactory browsing experience than traditional feature phones.
Crucially, these devices are far more affordable than smartphones. A prime example is the JioPhone, an
LTE-enabled phone launched by leading Indian operator Reliance Jio (in partnership with KaiOS) and available
for under $10. Over 100 million of these devices have been sold since its launch two years ago, providing an
affordable entry point for many first-time internet users in India.
While devices such as the JioPhone are not meant to appeal exclusively to women, the low cost helps to
address the affordability barrier that disproportionately affects women’s access to the internet. There is also
evidence that smart feature phones are playing an important role in reducing South Asia’s mobile internet
gender gap. While the gender gap in smartphone ownership has remained at around 60 per cent in India
since 2017, the mobile internet gap has narrowed from 68 per cent to 50 per cent over this time, suggesting
that women’s increased mobile internet use in these markets is being driven by smart feature phones.
15. LTE = Long Term Evolution, the primary 4G wireless broadband standard used in mobile networks.
27
Growing awareness of
mobile internet
Awareness of mobile internet is growing quickly,
but remains lower for women
Awareness of mobile internet16 is the second stage of substantially in every country surveyed between 2017
the GSMA’s mobile internet user journey framework. and 2019. Promisingly, awareness of mobile internet
In markets with the widest gender gaps in mobile has grown disproportionately for women, and the
internet use, it is a stage in which a large proportion gender gap in awareness has narrowed considerably
of both men and women end their journey. Lower in most markets (see Figure 10). Most notably, in India,
awareness of mobile internet among women is women’s awareness of mobile internet increased from
therefore one of the most important contributors to 19 per cent to 50 per cent during this period, while in
the gender gap in mobile internet use in LMICs. Bangladesh the disparity between male and female
awareness has almost entirely disappeared.
However, this is changing quickly. For both men and
women, awareness of mobile internet has increased
16. Defined as either those who have used the internet on a mobile phone before or are aware of both the internet and that it can be used on a mobile phone.
28
Figure 10
Mobile internet awareness by country, 2017 and 2019

82%
94%
Algeria
80%
91%
71%
81%
Kenya
53%
AFRICA
72% 2017
62% 2019
85%
Nigeria
45%
76%
83%
89%
South Africa
76%
85%
50%
73%
Bangladesh
34%
71%
41%
71%
India
19%
50%
47%
70%
ASIA
Indonesia
41%
64%
75%
88%
Myanmar
62%
85%
47%
79%
Pakistan
39%
70%
88%
91%
Brazil
88%
94%
LATIN AMERICA
78%
86%
Guatemala
71%
79%
86%
93%
Mexico
81%
91%
Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey 2017 and 2019

A person is considered aware of mobile internet if they have either used mobile internet before, or have not used mobile internet but are
aware they can access the internet on a mobile phone.
29
Mobile internet use

by women
While access to the internet on mobile phones has While gender inequality in mobile internet use is
grown quickly, it remains unequal. Women across greatest in South Asia, the region has also made the
LMICs are 20 per cent less likely than men to use most progress. Between 2017 and 2019, the mobile
the internet on a mobile phone, which translates to internet gender gap narrowed from 67 per cent
300 million fewer women than men. In every region to 51 per cent. Women’s access to mobile internet
except Latin America, the gender gap in mobile increased from just 21 per cent in 2017 to 34 per cent
internet use is wider than the gender gap in mobile in 2019. Women in South Asia access mobile internet
ownership (see Figure 11). As in previous years, the at almost the same rate as women in Sub-Saharan
gender gap is widest in South Asia by a substantial Africa (34 per cent versus 35 per cent), whereas in
margin (51 percent) followed by Sub-Saharan Africa 2017 the rate of mobile internet use among women in
(37 per cent). South Asia was seven percentage points lower than
Sub-Saharan Africa.
30
Figure 11
Gender gap in mobile internet use in low- and middle-income

Base: Total adult population
OVERALL
Europe &
Central Asia
Proportion of
54% women who use
mobile internet
Middle East &
64%
North Africa
Gender gap in
20% mobile internet
use 47% 5%
Women not using
1bn mobile internet
21% 61m
East Asia &
Pacific
66m
70%
3%
Latin America &

Caribbean South
240m
Asia
Sub-Saharan
69% Africa
34%
35%
1% 51%
37%
70m 394m Gender gap
186m
-1% 51%

The gender gap refers to how much less likely a woman is to use mobile internet than a man.
Mobile internet use is defined as a person having used the internet on a mobile phone at least once in the last three months.
Mobile internet users do not have to personally own a mobile phone, so the above figures also include those who used mobile internet on
someone else’s phone.
31
The changing mobile internet gender gap —

driven by South Asia
The gender gap in South Asia undoubtedly still South Asia has reduced the overall mobile internet
represents great inequality in access, but it also gender gap across LMICs, which has fallen by seven
demonstrates impressive progress in just two years. percentage points since 2017. However, the mobile
Greater price competition in the region has likely internet gender gap has remained relatively constant
played a role, but operators in the region have made a in most other regions over this period. The other
concerted effort to reach more women (see Box 4). exception, interestingly, is Latin America. Although the
gender gap was comparatively small in 2017 at six per
Greater access to mobile internet among women in cent, it has since been almost completely eradicated.
Box 4:
Mobile operators in South Asia are taking action to close the mobile internet gender gap
While changing market dynamics and price erosion have likely contributed to the reduction of the mobile
internet gender gap in South Asia, the mobile industry has also taken concerted action to address the
gender gap in the region. Ten operators, collectively representing 70 per cent of mobile connections in
the region, made formal commitments as part of the GSMA Connected Women Commitment Initiative to
reduce the gender gap in their mobile internet customer base between 2015 and 2020. Looking across the
largest markets in South Asia, in India, all three leading mobile operators — Airtel India, Reliance Jio and
Vodafone Idea India — have made commitments, while Grameenphone and Robi Axiata have committed to
reducing the gender gap in Bangladesh, and Telenor Pakistan has done the same.
These operators are addressing the key barriers to mobile use for women in their markets, including the
JioPhone discussed in Box 3 of this report, and through launching products and services like Joyeeta — a
handset financing service launched by Robi Axiata that aims to make smartphones more affordable with
preferential rates for female customers.17
Understanding the barriers to mobile

internet use
As availability and uptake of mobile internet increases Those who have used a mobile phone and are aware
among both men and women, it is important to of the internet face several barriers to using mobile
understand how the barriers facing non-users are internet, and these have evolved over time. Table 2
evolving. Awareness of mobile internet is growing more highlights the top reported barriers to mobile internet
quickly than adoption, implying that among those who use and how their relative importance has changed
are aware, other barriers are preventing them from since 2018.
adopting the service.
17. Read more at: https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/blog/how-mobile-operators-can-improve-the-affordability-of-their-services-for-women-to-help-close-the-mobile-

gender-gap/
32
Table 2
The top barriers to mobile internet use in surveyed countries

among mobile users who are aware of the internet
Based on the single most important barrier to using mobile internet identified by mobile users who are aware of mobile
internet but do not use it, averaged across surveyed markets
All countries Africa Asia Latin America

Ranking
Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men
Literacy Literacy Literacy and Affordability Literacy and Literacy and Safety and Safety and
1 and skills and skills skills skills skills security security
Affordability Affordability Affordability Literacy Affordability Affordability Literacy Literacy

2 and skills and skills and skills
Safety and Safety and Safety and Relevance Relevance Relevance Affordability Affordability
3 security security security
Relevance Relevance Relevance Safety and Family does Safety and Network Relevance
4 security not approve security
Key:
Barrier importance has increased since 2018
Barrier importance has decreased since 2018

Base: Adults aged 18+ who have used a mobile phone in the last three months but have not used mobile internet in the last three months,
despite being aware of mobile internet (excludes mobile users who are not aware of mobile internet).
Mobile internet use is defined as a person having used the internet on a mobile phone at least once in the last three months.
Mobile internet users do not have to personally own a mobile phone, so the above figures also include those who used mobile internet on
someone else’s phone.
Percentages indicate the proportion of respondents who answered, “This is the most important reason stopping me” to the question,
“Which one of those factors would you say is the single most important reason stopping you from using the internet on a mobile phone?”
Regional barriers were calculated by averaging country-level data for the 15 countries surveyed.
Literacy and digital skills remain the primary barrier has been replaced by safety and security as the third
to mobile internet use. This is consistent across the 15 most important barrier. It should be noted that while
countries surveyed for both men and women who have safety and security rose in the rankings of barriers,
used a mobile and are aware of mobile internet, but this was driven primarily by the declining importance
have not used it in the last three months. Affordability, of relevance as a barrier. Most of the relative increase
primarily of smartphones, remains the second most in importance was for barriers relating to literacy and
important barrier. The most substantial change is the digital skills and affordability.
declining importance of relevance as a barrier, which
Further information on country-level barriers to mobile internet use can be found in Appendix 1.
33

Literacy and digital skills remain the greatest collective barrier to
36%
mobile internet adoption across the 15 markets surveyed, for both men
and women. It is the greatest barrier for women in Africa and for both
men and women in Asia. Low literacy levels are a key factor in several
markets. For example, in Nigeria, 27 per cent of women and 22 per of sampled women in Senegal cited
cent of men who are aware of, but do not use the internet, cite it as reading and writing as the main
the most important barrier. Lack of knowledge about how to access barrier to mobile internet access,
the internet and lack of time to learn both emerged as key barriers in compared to only 12% of men.
several countries, including Mozambique and Myanmar.
Affordability is a critically important barrier to mobile internet access for men and women alike. Of the 18
individual factors considered in the survey, handset affordability is the single most cited barrier. Affordability
is a particular barrier in Sub-Saharan Africa where it has risen to be the top barrier for men and the second
most important barrier for women. In Kenya, 38 per cent of men and 33 per cent of women who are aware
of mobile internet, but have not used it, cited affordability as the single most important barrier to adoption.
Affordability has increased in significance as a barrier to mobile internet use. For example, it was cited as a
top barrier by an additional 20 per cent of female respondents in Mozambique.
Safety and security is the third most important barrier across the surveyed markets. It is a particularly
important barrier in Latin America, and the most important barrier for both men and women in Guatemala
and Mexico. It is also an important factor in South Africa where 22 per cent of women reported safety and
security-related issues as the main barriers to internet access, compared to only five per cent of men.
Relevance is the barrier that has shown the most change year on year. While the perceived relevance of the

internet — and a sense that there is insufficient content available in local languages — is still an important
barrier in many countries, its importance as a top barrier has notably declined. This was clear among men
and women in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Algeria, and for women in Mozambique. The decline of relevance
as a barrier reflects growth in the use of apps to share video content in many LMICs, particularly through
platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, which have driven explosive growth in video consumption on mobile
(see the next section on women’s mobile use). However, relevance remains a key barrier in many markets,
particularly in Myanmar where 34 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women cite it as a primary barrier.
Accessibility-related barriers are not grouped as a composite, as

they cover a disparate range of topics. However, there are several In Pakistan, family disapproval is
accessibility-related barriers that are important considerations in the main factor preventing
29%
several markets. Network quality emerged as a notable impediment of sampled female
to mobile internet access in many markets, particularly for men non-users of mobile
in several African countries. Equally, while disapproval by family internet from
members is not a top barrier in most markets, for women in getting online,
Bangladesh and particularly in Pakistan, it is an extremely important compared to only
factor grounded in conservative social norms that govern many 2% of men.
women’s choices and behaviour.
Among those who are aware of mobile internet, the main access barriers have remained fairly consistent between
men and women. However, women’s lower rate of mobile internet access means there are millions more women
who face these barriers, so addressing them will have a disproportionately beneficial impact on women overall.
34
Understanding women’s
mobile use
The benefits of mobile are derived from the gap; equal use is just as important. Here, another
information, services, content and opportunities it gender gap emerges, with female mobile owners using
provides access to. Therefore, promoting equal uptake a less diverse range of use cases.
of mobile internet is not sufficient to close the gender
Even among mobile owners, usage differs substantially between men and women
Respondents to the survey were asked about 28 Male and female usage levels are lowest in South Asia
distinct use cases on a mobile phone, including basic and in Uganda — markets with some of the lowest
mobile services, such as sending SMS messages and overall levels of mobile ownership and mobile internet
making voice calls, through to more complex, internet- use. In Bangladesh, Pakistan and Uganda, men use
based use cases, such as watching video content an average of four use cases on a weekly basis, and
online. In every country surveyed, women mobile women three. India, however, has the widest disparity
owners used fewer of these applications than men (see in usage between men and women, with men on
Figure 12). average engaging in seven use cases on a weekly basis,
compared to four for women.
35
Figure 12
Average number of use cases per week among male and female
mobile owners
10
1% 6%
9
20%
3% 17%
8
28%
25% 30% 44%
7
6% 18%
14%
6
5 25% 28%
20%
4
0
Mexico
Brazil
South Africa
Guatemala
Algeria
Indonesia
Myanmar
Nigeria
Mozambique
Senegal
Kenya
India
Uganda
Pakistan
X% Gender gap Bangladesh

Base: Mobile owners aged 18+
A mobile owner is defined as a person who has sole or main use of a SIM card (or a mobile phone that does not require a SIM), and uses it
at least once a month.
Respondents may have engaged in some use cases on a phone other than their own. Internet-based use cases were asked only of those
who reported having used the internet on a mobile or other device in the past.
Mobile internet use cases were asked of mobile owners who had used the internet before.
n = 253 to 693 for women and n = 284 to 1,006 for men
36
The changing nature of mobile use
Since The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2018, patterns proportion of female mobile internet users who watch
of mobile use have changed considerably in LMICs video at least once a month has increased from 42 per
for both men and women. As smartphone uptake has cent in 2017 to 74 per cent in 2019. In Kenya, women’s
grown and data prices — particularly in South Asia — monthly consumption of video has increased from 28
have declined, the consumption of video content has per cent to 51 per cent on at least a monthly basis, and
grown substantially. The proportion of mobile internet 32 per cent to 63 per cent for men. A large share of
users who watch videos on their mobile at least once these monthly video viewers now view on a daily basis,
a month has increased by over 50 per cent over two including 57 per cent of male and 44 per cent of female
years in half of the eight countries surveyed in both viewers in India. See Figure 13 for rates of monthly
2017 and 2019, and in many countries this growth video consumption from a selection of example
has been disproportionate for women. In India, the countries across regions.
Figure 13
Growth in monthly video consumption in selected countries, by gender

Percentage of mobile internet users watching free video on mobile at least monthly
80%
75% 74%
70% 72%
70% 69% 69%
67%
64% 64%
60% 63%
59%
56%
54% 54%
50% 51% 51% 51%
49%
47%
40% 42%
40% 39%
30% 32%
28%
20%
10%
0%
MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE

Guatemala India Indonesia Kenya
2017 2018 2019
Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey (2017, 2018 and 2019)

Base: Mobile internet users aged 18+
A mobile internet user is defined as a person who has used the internet on a mobile phone at least once in the last three months.
Mobile internet users do not have to personally own a mobile phone.
Respondents may have engaged in watching video on a phone other than their own. The video use case was asked only of those who
reported having ever used the internet on a mobile.
As video content becomes more popular and local such as Hotstar in India, the perceived relevance of the
video content becomes more available on free internet is increasing among men and women in LMICs,
platforms like YouTube and TikTok, as well as platforms which is in turn driving adoption.
37
38
Recommendations
As mobile is the primary way most people in LMICs becomes an increasingly important part of all our lives.
access the internet, closing the mobile gender gap is
becoming increasingly urgent as the importance of the The recommendations in this section build on and
internet grows. Promising progress is being made, but extend those presented in The Mobile Gender Gap
continued, concerted action is critical. Report 2019. Recommendations are provided for four
types of organisations: mobile network operators
However, more needs to be done. As internet access (MNOs), internet companies, policymakers and
becomes a gateway to new economic opportunities, regulators and the development community (see
government services and global information, there is a Figure 14). The actions of these stakeholders will be
tremendous risk that the rate of women’s access is not most effective if they are coordinated and grounded
keeping pace with new technology. With 5G becoming in an understanding of the country-level barriers
a reality, it is not sufficient to equalise women’s mobile to mobile ownership and internet use affecting a
phone ownership; it is important that women also have disproportionate number of women in LMICs.
access to and knowledge of cutting-edge technology
to be equal participants in the digital age. These recommendations are not intended to be
comprehensive or exhaustive. Rather, they highlight
Mobile ownership makes women feel safer, more some important areas for stakeholders to consider
informed and supports them in their work, education when taking steps to address the mobile gender
and other tasks. These benefits are much more gap. There is no one-size-fits-all solution; a multi-
pronounced for mobile internet users. faceted approach will be needed to accelerate
mobile adoption and use among women. Actions are
Addressing the mobile gender gap is an important also needed to address the structural barriers and
way to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development inequalities underpinning the mobile gender gap,
Goals (SDGs), promote equal social and economic including disparities between men and women in terms
participation for women and ensure that gender of income and education, as well as restrictive and
inequalities are not exacerbated as connectivity harmful social norms.
Recommendations for all stakeholders to close the mobile gender gap
Work to understand women’s needs and barriers to mobile ownership and use in your market, and design
targeted interventions to address these barriers. Consider the effect of social norms on women in the
design and implementation of policies, products and services.
Improve the quality and availability of gender-disaggregated data to set targets, create strategies and
track progress.
Ensure considerations of women and gender equality are integrated in strategies and plans, including
setting specific gender-equity targets for reaching women and tracking their progress.
Consult and involve women users in product, service and policy design and implementation, including
testing and piloting with women, and proactively tailoring marketing and distribution approaches to women.
39
Figure 14
Recommendations for closing the mobile gender gap in low- and

middle-income countries, by stakeholder type and barrier addressed
Barrier
addressed by Mobile network operators Internet companies Policymakers and regulators Development community
the action
Support industry efforts to lower the cost of internet- Partner with MNOs to address handset affordability. In markets where they exist, review the impact of Universal Service Funds (USFs) Partner with, and support, the mobile ecosystem on
enabled mobile phones, especially smartphones. e.g. Through subsidies for low-cost smartphones that can on the affordability of mobile and mobile internet services for women. When projects to promote handset affordability.
e.g. Partner with a manufacturer to offer entry-level help trigger mobile internet adoption. administered ineffectively, USFs can be counterproductive in that, by effectively taxing e.g. Handset financing schemes provided through local
Affordability smartphones, or smart feature phones, to customers at a customers, they actually serve to raise the affordability barrier.* NGO networks and local grassroots female-led networks,
reduced cost. such as women’s savings groups.
The funds should be targeted, time-bound and managed transparently. They should
be allocated in a competitive and technically neutral way, in consultation with the
industry, with a view to target projects with the highest possible impact. Where
Design solutions to reduce the burden of the “one-off Consider how to adapt your product or service to make it appropriate, this could include projects focusing on the adoption of mobile and
cost” of smartphones for consumers, making them more more affordable, without compromising on quality. mobile internet among women.
Literacy and affordable. e.g. Make “data-light” versions of applications to reduce
e.g. Provide microloans or instalment repayment plans the cost for more price-sensitive users.
skills with third parties. Review sector-specific taxes and fees that may exacerbate the cost barrier to mobile Fund and/or facilitate mobile-based digital literacy
ownership and use and reduce investment, and that have a disproportionate impact on training for women.
women. These include taxes on airtime, devices and social media usage. e.g. Utilise trusted local networks to deliver digital skills
training to women, potentially in partnership with an MNO.
Develop clear and transparent pricing for credit and data, Ensure mobile apps and operating systems are user
and introduce more creative pricing to appeal to the friendly for those who are less confident and literate.
price-sensitive. e.g. Have clear user menus with fewer steps, simplified Implement and support initiatives to help reduce the price of devices and services for Work to address the negative influence of social norms
Relevance e.g. Encourage low-cost or free trial of mobile internet content, simple terminology, shortened sign-up process, consumers. that restrict women’s access to mobile technology by
services through promotional deals. using icons/symbols/pictures/videos comic-style stories in e.g. Support financial institutions and local savings groups to provide risk capital for challenging misconceptions and communicating the
addition to (or instead of) text. handset loans for women at lower interest rates, or subsidise handsets for marginalised positive and relevant use cases of mobile.
populations in partnership with the private sector.
Improve customers’ digital skills, including providing Develop and incorporate tools to improve the usability of
assistance to new users who may need additional support. digital services for those with low literacy levels or who Invest in public education and digital literacy initiatives that increase women’s and Raise awareness of the threats preventing women from
Safety and e.g. Train mobile agents to deliver digital skills training only speak their local language. girls’ mobile digital literacy and confidence, including for women and girls across all accessing and using the internet and how they can be
and support to customers, for example, using the GSMA’s e.g. Integrate voice search or text-to-speech. levels of education, income and familiarity with mobile and the internet. addressed.
security Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit. e.g. Mainstream digital skills into school curricula. e.g. Awareness campaigns, digital literacy programmes
and formal education programmes/curriculum.
Ensure online government services are developed considering the needs and Develop and support initiatives to increase women’s
Ensure marketing and services are accessible for those Understand and incorporate the content, features and capabilities of individuals with lower literacy levels and digital skills. access to and use of mobile and mobile internet and
with lower literacy levels, digital skills, and awareness services that women in your market find useful and e.g. Provide an IVR help line, use simple terminology, local language, icons/symbols/ leverage existing projects to facilitate women's mobile
and understanding of the internet. relevant. pictures/videos/comic-style stories in addition to (or instead of) text. ownership and use and address the barriers they face.
Accessibility e.g. Have content and advertising in local languages, use e.g. Drive the increased availability and accessibility of
simple, single-minded messages, avoid using technical relevant local-language video content.
jargon, consider the use of pictures/icons/videos.
Encourage the development of an ecosystem of apps and services that meet the Raise awareness of the barriers to women’s mobile
needs, preferences and capabilities of women and girls. ownership and use, and advocate for stakeholders to
Communicate the relevance of mobile ownership and Help women navigate the internet confidently and safely, take action to address the mobile gender gap.
mobile internet use for women’s day-to-day lives. and feel secure and in control when using internet apps
e.g. Showcase relatable use cases in marketing targeted and services.
at women and/or ensure that women are featured in more e.g. Provide training in how to avoid and respond to
broadcast advertising campaigns. negative behaviours and threats; develop tools to
transparently and easily allow users to control their privacy Facilitate and make available public services online to showcase the value and relevance
and security settings and manage data use. of the internet and promote greater efficiency in the delivery of government services.
Develop apps and services that can help increase safety Develop apps, services and other measures to help
for women. women feel safer online.
e.g. Develop “safety” services like apps to help women e.g. Make it easy and safe for customers to report online
alert contacts in an emergency or call-blocking services. abuse; collaborate with relevant government agencies Increase awareness of the threats preventing women and girls from accessing and
to ensure these reports are responded to quickly and using the internet and how they can be addressed or reduced.
effectively. e.g. Awareness campaigns, digital literacy programmes and formal education
programmes/curriculum (targeting both men and women).
Consider the role of the gatekeeper in facilitating Make mobile internet more accessible by providing
women’s mobile ownership and use. internet services and operating systems in local
e.g. Demonstrate through marketing the value of women languages. Develop appropriate legal and policy frameworks that recognise digital harassment,
having access to mobiles and mobile internet. and make it easy and safe to report online abuse.
* For more details, please refer to https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/mobilepolicyhandbook/business-environment#universal-service-funds
40 41
42
Appendix 1: Barriers to
mobile ownership and
mobile internet use
Respondents in 15 LMICs were asked to identify the grounded in social norms that disproportionately
barriers preventing them from either owning a mobile affect women and might not be reported directly by
phone or using the internet on a mobile phone. Strongly respondents, such as a perceived inappropriateness of
related or thematically overlapping barriers were spending money on mobile services for themselves.
grouped into composites, which were used to calculate
the regional rankings of barriers.18 For mobile ownership and mobile internet use,
respondents were first asked to identify all relevant
Respondents selected barriers from a pre-defined barriers, then to identify those that were most
list during a face-to-face quantitative survey. The important and, finally, to identify the single most
results may not fully reflect the importance of subtle, important barrier.
underlying structural impediments, particularly those
18. Any respondent who reported any barrier in the category as the main barrier was included in that composite. The composite value is not an average of the values of all the individual
barriers in the category.
43
Figure 15
Top barrier to owning a mobile phone

Percentage of non-mobile owners who identified the following as the single most important barrier to owning a mobile
AFFORDABILITY LITERACY AND SKILLS RELEVANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY ACCESSIBILITY
DO NOT ACCESS
READING/ MOBILE IS STRANGERS
HANDSET / CREDIT KNOW HOW PERSONAL INFORMATION BATTERY NETWORK FAMILY DOES
WRITING NOT RELEVANT CONTACTING TO AGENT ID
SIM COST COST TO USE A SAFETY SECURITY CHARGING COVERAGE NOT APPROVE
DIFFICULTIES FOR ME ME SUPPORT
MOBILE
M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W
Algeria 13% 11% 0% 3% 22% 23% 23% 24% 15% 8% 0% 3% 3% 1% 12% 3% 0% 0% 5% 2% 3% 22% 3% 0% 0% 0%
Kenya 57% 40% 3% 2% 0% 4% 15% 23% 3% 9% 0% 0% 3% 4% 3% 4% 0% 0% 3% 3% 0% 2% 0% 2% 12% 9%

AFRICA
Mozambique 40% 36% 1% 3% 3% 16% 8% 15% 4% 3% 5% 3% 1% 2% 3% 2% 8% 4% 11% 3% 1% 5% 5% 1% 9% 5%
Nigeria 47% 35% 10% 8% 3% 7% 26% 30% 0% 2% 4% 0% 0% 1% 2% 0% 0% 3% 2% 1% 4% 10% 2% 0% 0% 1%
Senegal 30% 31% 2% 7% 3% 3% 17% 27% 4% 0% 2% 1% 4% 6% 7% 9% 2% 1% 13% 7% 5% 3% 7% 3% 2% 2%
Uganda 48% 41% 4% 5% 5% 12% 15% 13% 8% 1% 2% 1% 1% 3% 0% 1% 1% 2% 3% 2% 2% 9% 2% 2% 10% 8%
Bangladesh 9% 7% 2% 0% 19% 31% 44% 17% 17% 15% 0% 4% 0% 1% 2% 3% 0% 1% 0% 5% 0% 11% 0% 1% 6% 2%
India 23% 34% 10% 5% 7% 9% 11% 16% 10% 11% 4% 2% 5% 3% 3% 3% 4% 3% 12% 6% 2% 3% 4% 2% 0% 0%

ASIA
Indonesia 30% 28% 3% 5% 8% 6% 28% 22% 3% 9% 4% 6% 4% 3% 7% 8% 0% 0% 13% 11% 0% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Myanmar 26% 21% 2% 3% 18% 20% 7% 6% 35% 35% 0% 3% 2% 2% 3% 1% 0% 2% 1% 1% 0% 4% 0% 0% 1% 2%
Pakistan 11% 15% 5% 2% 8% 7% 49% 25% 6% 3% 6% 2% 3% 5% 0% 2% 3% 0% 4% 2% 6% 35% 0% 0% 1% 1%

LATIN AMERICA
Brazil 26% 33% 7% 5% 12% 23% 22% 15% 10% 3% 10% 10% 2% 0% 7% 7% 0% 0% 3% 0% 2% 2% 0% 2% 0% 0%
Guatemala 16% 23% 4% 7% 5% 6% 10% 14% 4% 3% 26% 16% 10% 10% 12% 12% 4% 2% 3% 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 2%
Mexico 33% 24% 4% 8% 3% 10% 15% 7% 4% 4% 4% 11% 6% 8% 15% 16% 0% 2% 9% 4% 2% 2% 0% 3% 2% 2%

Base: Non-mobile owners aged 18+ M W
Mobile ownership is defined as a person having sole or main use of a SIM card (or a mobile phone that does not require a SIM), and using it at least
once a month.
Men Women Lowest barrier cited in that country Highest barrier cited in that country
Percentages indicate the proportion of non-mobile owners who responded, “This is the most important reason stopping me” to the question, “Which
one of those factors would you say is the single most important reason stopping you from having a mobile phone or SIM card, connected to a mobile
operator’s network?”
n= from 55 to 236 for women, and n= from 30 to 158 for men
44 45
Figure 16
Important barriers to owning a mobile phone

Percentage of non-mobile owners who identified the following as a main barrier to mobile ownership
AFFORDABILITY LITERACY AND SKILLS RELEVANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY ACCESSIBILITY
DO NOT ACCESS
READING/ MOBILE IS STRANGERS
HANDSET / CREDIT KNOW HOW PERSONAL INFORMATION BATTERY NETWORK FAMILY DOES
WRITING NOT RELEVANT CONTACTING TO AGENT ID
SIM COST COST TO USE A SAFETY SECURITY CHARGING COVERAGE NOT APPROVE
DIFFICULTIES FOR ME ME SUPPORT
MOBILE
M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W
Algeria 15% 15% 3% 8% 22% 27% 21% 30% 13% 12% 0% 6% 5% 5% 11% 9% 3% 0% 7% 3% 3% 21% 5% 0% 0% 0%
Kenya 63% 44% 9% 4% 0% 7% 15% 26% 6% 9% 0% 3% 6% 5% 6% 7% 3% 2% 3% 3% 0% 3% 0% 2% 12% 9%
Mozambique 40% 41% 7% 12% 6% 24% 16% 28% 3% 4% 5% 4% 2% 6% 5% 4% 14% 10% 12% 8% 2% 9% 13% 9% 12% 14%
AFRICA
Nigeria 59% 50% 21% 20% 9% 16% 45% 49% 0% 6% 8% 3% 4% 6% 4% 1% 2% 4% 2% 3% 6% 22% 2% 1% 0% 3%
Senegal 35% 35% 6% 10% 7% 7% 28% 30% 4% 1% 5% 3% 6% 18% 11% 12% 2% 5% 14% 9% 6% 4% 9% 6% 5% 2%
South Africa 39% 16% 14% 24% 3% 10% 10% 16% 3% 10% 7% 11% 0% 12% 14% 9% 0% 6% 17% 4% 3% 6% 0% 2% 0% 2%
Uganda 55% 49% 16% 12% 12% 15% 23% 21% 7% 2% 4% 3% 3% 4% 3% 2% 6% 7% 8% 7% 4% 10% 5% 3% 14% 11%
Bangladesh 12% 8% 2% 1% 19% 31% 46% 21% 24% 16% 2% 4% 0% 1% 4% 2% 4% 2% 0% 5% 6% 11% 2% 2% 6% 3%
India 31% 42% 17% 12% 11% 16% 18% 24% 14% 17% 11% 5% 12% 7% 11% 6% 7% 7% 16% 8% 3% 9% 9% 5% 1% 4%
ASIA
Indonesia 50% 49% 33% 27% 21% 27% 36% 32% 20% 20% 11% 11% 4% 11% 14% 15% 4% 12% 22% 18% 1% 7% 4% 11% 1% 1%
Myanmar 40% 37% 11% 16% 40% 43% 22% 20% 53% 46% 9% 14% 13% 12% 10% 9% 6% 11% 4% 7% 2% 9% 5% 7% 13% 12%
Pakistan 16% 24% 6% 6% 10% 13% 56% 38% 6% 15% 7% 7% 5% 13% 1% 10% 5% 1% 8% 4% 7% 38% 1% 1% 3% 3%
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil 29% 45% 14% 16% 14% 36% 26% 25% 15% 9% 12% 14% 2% 5% 10% 16% 6% 3% 6% 2% 6% 2% 0% 2% 1% 2%
Guatemala 27% 41% 14% 17% 10% 16% 17% 25% 7% 9% 43% 34% 31% 29% 27% 26% 9% 11% 13% 9% 8% 8% 12% 6% 4% 8%
Mexico 42% 32% 18% 16% 9% 14% 20% 14% 7% 8% 14% 15% 17% 14% 23% 23% 9% 4% 15% 8% 2% 3% 4% 6% 6% 1%

Base: Non-mobile owners aged 18+ M W
Mobile ownership is defined as a person having sole or main use of a SIM card (or a mobile phone that does not require a SIM), and using it at least
once a month.
Percentages indicate the proportion of non-mobile owners who responded, “This is one of the most important reasons stopping me” to the question,
“Which, if any, of those factors would you say are the most important reasons stopping you from having a mobile phone or SIM card, connected to a
mobile operator’s network?”
n= from 49 to 317 for women, and n= from 30 to 225 for men
46 47
Figure 17
Top barrier to mobile internet use

Percentage of mobile users who are aware of mobile internet but do not use it, and who identified the following as the single
most important barrier to using mobile internet
AFFORDABILITY LITERACY AND SKILLS RELEVANCE RELEVANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY ACCESSIBILITY
DO NOT HAVE
DO NOT NOT SLOW
DO NOT TIME TO INTERNET INSUFFICIENT HARMFUL NO ACCESS
KNOW HOW READING/ SUFFICIENT STRANGERS INTERNET FAMILY ACCESS
HANDSET DATA KNOW HOW LEARN HOW IS NOT CONTENT CONTENT INFORMATION NETWORK CONNECTION/ TO INTERNET-
TO ACCESS WRITING SUPPORT IN CONTACTING DRAINS MY DOES NOT TO AGENT
COST COST TO USE A TO ACCESS RELEVANT IN LOCAL (SELF/ SECURITY COVERAGE CANNOT DO ENABLED
INTERNET ON DIFFICULTIES LEARNING TO ME BATTERY APPROVE SUPPORT
MOBILE INTERNET ON FOR ME LANGUAGE FAMILY) WHAT I WANT PHONE
A MOBILE USE INTERNET
A MOBILE
M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W
Algeria 23% 24% 1% 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 21% 21% 10% 8% 1% 3% 7% 9% 2% 1% 3% 3% 4% 1% 3% 8% 2% 2% 9% 4% 1% 6% 1% 0% 2% 1% 5% 2%
Kenya 34% 30% 4% 3% 6% 9% 0% 1% 7% 8% 7% 9% 6% 5% 11% 11% 1% 3% 2% 5% 4% 6% 2% 1% 4% 3% 3% 4% 1% 1% 1% 1% 5% 0% 2% 1%
Mozambique 22% 28% 2% 4% 13% 17% 0% 1% 8% 14% 12% 3% 2% 5% 3% 1% 2% 0% 4% 4% 2% 2% 5% 3% 12% 5% 3% 0% 0% 0% 2% 3% 6% 4% 2% 7%

AFRICA
Nigeria 27% 23% 4% 5% 9% 5% 1% 2% 22% 27% 2% 6% 1% 1% 11% 11% 2% 1% 6% 2% 5% 1% 3% 4% 2% 3% 2% 1% 0% 3% 0% 0% 3% 4% 2% 2%
Senegal 27% 18% 2% 1% 7% 3% 7% 1% 12% 36% 8% 13% 1% 1% 2% 0% 2% 2% 0% 5% 5% 4% 8% 3% 3% 1% 6% 7% 0% 1% 1% 0% 2% 1% 7% 4%
South Africa 26% 15% 13% 17% 2% 5% 2% 1% 2% 1% 7% 11% 2% 0% 19% 16% 5% 1% 0% 7% 0% 5% 5% 11% 5% 2% 2% 4% 6% 1% 0% 0% 2% 1% 3% 0%
Uganda 29% 42% 6% 7% 8% 2% 2% 1% 16% 9% 4% 5% 6% 7% 7% 3% 5% 3% 3% 2% 0% 4% 2% 2% 3% 4% 6% 2% 0% 1% 2% 1% 1% 3% 2% 2%
Bangladesh 17% 8% 6% 3% 12% 6% 4% 3% 16% 12% 8% 2% 2% 1% 12% 14% 3% 6% 7% 5% 1% 6% 1% 4% 1% 2% 5% 10% 3% 12% 1% 1% 1% 0% 1% 3%
India 23% 26% 8% 6% 10% 14% 1% 4% 8% 11% 7% 3% 3% 4% 9% 10% 4% 5% 2% 2% 2% 1% 3% 1% 3% 2% 4% 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 4% 2% 0% 1%

ASIA
Indonesia 23% 26% 25% 11% 8% 4% 0% 0% 6% 7% 6% 10% 0% 0% 8% 15% 0% 0% 0% 3% 2% 2% 4% 5% 0% 2% 7% 3% 0% 6% 6% 0% 4% 5% 0% 0%
Myanmar 7% 5% 4% 6% 7% 10% 1% 1% 7% 8% 11% 12% 5% 2% 31% 28% 3% 3% 5% 7% 1% 2% 7% 1% 2% 5% 1% 2% 1% 3% 1% 1% 5% 1% 1% 3%
Pakistan 12% 7% 10% 6% 4% 2% 3% 2% 38% 17% 10% 7% 1% 4% 6% 8% 4% 4% 1% 8% 3% 2% 0% 1% 1% 0% 4% 1% 2% 29% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%

LATIN AMERICA
Brazil 19% 19% 5% 4% 16% 15% 0% 8% 11% 10% 3% 6% 3% 4% 13% 4% 0% 0% 3% 4% 3% 2% 8% 11% 6% 4% 5% 6% 0% 0% 0% 0% 3% 2% 2% 0%
Guatemala 9% 9% 8% 3% 8% 7% 6% 0% 7% 11% 6% 6% 2% 1% 4% 3% 0% 0% 12% 21% 14% 7% 9% 21% 3% 2% 0% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0% 3% 0% 5% 2%
Mexico 19% 16% 8% 4% 4% 5% 4% 6% 12% 6% 2% 2% 0% 6% 0% 6% 4% 0% 6% 5% 12% 6% 19% 24% 2% 2% 6% 4% 4% 2% 0% 0% 0% 4% 0% 2%

Base: Adults aged 18+ who have used a mobile phone in the last three months but have not used mobile internet in the last three months, M W
despite being aware of mobile internet (excludes mobile users who are not aware of mobile internet).
Percentages indicate the proportion of respondents who answered, “This is the most important reason stopping me” to the question,
“Which one of those factors would you say is the single most important reason stopping you from using the internet on a mobile phone?”
n = from 45 to 163 for women and n = from 37 to 173 for men
48 49
Figure 18
Important barriers to mobile internet use

Percentage of mobile internet users who are aware of mobile internet but do not use it, and who identified the following as a
main barrier to using mobile internet
AFFORDABILITY LITERACY AND SKILLS RELEVANCE RELEVANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY ACCESSIBILITY
DO NOT HAVE
DO NOT NOT SLOW
DO NOT TIME TO INTERNET INSUFFICIENT HARMFUL NO ACCESS
KNOW HOW READING/ SUFFICIENT STRANGERS INTERNET FAMILY ACCESS
HANDSET DATA KNOW HOW LEARN HOW IS NOT CONTENT CONTENT INFORMATION NETWORK CONNECTION/ TO INTERNET-
TO ACCESS WRITING SUPPORT IN CONTACTING DRAINS MY DOES NOT TO AGENT
COST COST TO USE A TO ACCESS RELEVANT IN LOCAL (SELF/ SECURITY COVERAGE CANNOT DO ENABLED
INTERNET ON DIFFICULTIES LEARNING TO ME BATTERY APPROVE SUPPORT
MOBILE INTERNET ON FOR ME LANGUAGE FAMILY) WHAT I WANT PHONE
A MOBILE USE INTERNET
A MOBILE
M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W
Algeria 26% 27% 8% 8% 5% 5% 10% 10% 22% 25% 14% 14% 2% 8% 12% 14% 5% 3% 6% 8% 4% 2% 4% 11% 4% 4% 10% 10% 1% 9% 4% 0% 5% 5% 5% 5%
Kenya 39% 35% 12% 8% 13% 13% 2% 5% 10% 15% 14% 14% 13% 8% 15% 14% 5% 3% 6% 9% 8% 10% 7% 3% 10% 7% 5% 5% 2% 1% 3% 3% 6% 1% 6% 4%
Mozambique 28% 25% 10% 5% 26% 19% 5% 1% 10% 12% 14% 2% 11% 4% 6% 1% 4% 0% 6% 3% 3% 2% 7% 2% 14% 4% 13% 0% 3% 0% 11% 2% 9% 4% 3% 8%
AFRICA
Nigeria 36% 28% 16% 14% 21% 12% 3% 5% 33% 35% 9% 10% 4% 3% 16% 17% 2% 6% 9% 4% 7% 4% 7% 5% 4% 3% 5% 2% 0% 7% 1% 0% 5% 4% 5% 7%
Senegal 39% 34% 6% 11% 13% 8% 11% 3% 35% 36% 10% 18% 3% 9% 2% 8% 17% 7% 6% 11% 11% 11% 18% 10% 3% 2% 9% 6% 0% 1% 1% 0% 5% 2% 11% 9%
South Africa 34% 26% 30% 27% 4% 8% 2% 4% 3% 4% 12% 20% 2% 5% 24% 23% 9% 5% 9% 14% 7% 11% 13% 15% 10% 8% 2% 6% 5% 2% 3% 1% 2% 3% 11% 4%
Uganda 37% 55% 23% 31% 20% 22% 7% 10% 23% 20% 12% 11% 15% 18% 12% 14% 11% 16% 4% 11% 4% 12% 3% 8% 12% 17% 17% 13% 1% 4% 6% 8% 6% 8% 9% 9%
Bangladesh 21% 11% 9% 7% 14% 10% 6% 4% 20% 12% 12% 4% 5% 4% 16% 16% 6% 7% 7% 9% 4% 7% 3% 5% 6% 6% 7% 13% 4% 13% 1% 1% 3% 4% 4% 2%
India 28% 33% 21% 19% 19% 22% 5% 7% 10% 16% 15% 13% 10% 8% 12% 17% 11% 13% 8% 6% 7% 3% 8% 4% 8% 5% 13% 6% 4% 5% 4% 6% 7% 2% 8% 10%
ASIA
Indonesia 39% 38% 45% 29% 19% 16% 5% 0% 9% 10% 11% 12% 5% 3% 11% 19% 5% 3% 2% 8% 9% 2% 12% 9% 7% 4% 10% 6% 0% 8% 8% 0% 6% 7% 0% 2%
Myanmar 28% 18% 26% 17% 36% 30% 25% 18% 19% 21% 35% 25% 23% 18% 49% 46% 26% 13% 27% 14% 22% 13% 21% 12% 18% 16% 9% 9% 9% 6% 18% 10% 20% 6% 12% 7%
Pakistan 20% 25% 18% 15% 9% 11% 9% 13% 44% 31% 17% 17% 5% 12% 13% 20% 10% 9% 3% 17% 5% 13% 2% 12% 4% 5% 9% 3% 4% 33% 5% 4% 3% 3% 5% 12%
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil 35% 28% 28% 16% 40% 30% 20% 22% 15% 14% 15% 12% 10% 12% 25% 10% 2% 4% 8% 8% 13% 8% 20% 12% 8% 8% 10% 11% 0% 2% 5% 4% 10% 8% 10% 6%
Guatemala 22% 41% 16% 32% 12% 21% 13% 16% 16% 23% 10% 21% 2% 18% 6% 17% 2% 8% 29% 50% 32% 42% 26% 51% 17% 27% 0% 20% 1% 9% 5% 8% 13% 17% 14% 25%
Mexico 26% 27% 17% 18% 9% 17% 7% 11% 13% 7% 7% 4% 5% 9% 0% 5% 3% 2% 20% 14% 21% 11% 28% 26% 7% 4% 7% 11% 5% 2% 2% 3% 2% 5% 5% 4%

Base: Adults aged 18+ who have used a mobile phone in the last three months but have not used mobile internet in the last three months, despite M W
being aware of mobile internet (excludes mobile users who are not aware of mobile internet).
Percentages indicate the proportion of respondents who answered, “This is one of the most important reasons stopping me” to the question,
“Which, if any, of those factors would you say are the most important reasons stopping you from using the internet on a mobile phone?”
50 51
Appendix 2:
Methodology
This report is based on an analysis of the results of and 2018 GSMA Intelligence survey results from 13
face-to-face surveys conducted by GSMA Intelligence additional countries,19 as well as third-party survey
in 15 LMICs in 2019. This is supplemented by 2017 results that cover another 10 countries. 20
Survey methodology
In all countries surveyed in 2019, a nationally sampling points were used per country. However, very
representative sample of approximately 1,000 male remote areas or areas with security concerns were
and female adults aged 18 and over were surveyed, excluded. Interviews were conducted with individuals
with the exception of India, where the sample was in the local language and typically within the home. All
approximately 2,000. The sampling frame was surveys were interviewer-administered using handheld
predominantly based on data from national statistics devices. Both female and male interviewers conducted
offices, including census data where possible, and the surveys. Data was weighted to known population
a range of other sources. To ensure representative profiles to correct any imbalances in the distributions
geographical distribution of interview subjects, achieved during fieldwork. 21
particularly in urban and rural areas, around 100
Extrapolating the mobile gender gap to non-surveyed countries

To estimate the gender gaps in mobile ownership, were derived directly from GSMA Intelligence face-to-
smartphone ownership and mobile internet use across face survey results.
all LMICs, an extrapolation model was developed.
The 28 countries included in the GSMA Intelligence Regression analysis identified the independent variables
Consumer Surveys represent 75 per cent of the total that were key to predicting each mobile gender gap.
adult population of all LMICs.22 Data from the 2017, 2018 An equation was generated for each gender gap to
and 2019 Consumer Survey countries served as the estimate the gender gap in LMICs not included in the
primary inputs for the model.23 Third-party and publicly survey. Each equation was tested using several different
available survey data was used when it was considered measures of model fit and accuracy (including adjusted
robust, which provided gender gap measures for mobile R-squared, RMSE, MAE, AIC/BIC, as well as out-of-
ownership and internet use for an additional 10 countries sample testing). The selected models demonstrated the
and smartphone ownership for an additional two highest level of fit when comparing predicted results
countries.24 All country-level figures cited in this study with the actual results derived from the survey.
19. Twelve countries were surveyed by GSMA Intelligence in 2017, 2018 and 2019: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan and
South Africa. Four countries were surveyed by GSMA Intelligence in 2017 and 2018: Argentina, Dominican Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania. One country was surveyed by GSMA
Intelligence in 2018 and 2019: Mozambique. Eight countries were surveyed by GSMA Intelligence only in 2017: Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Nicaragua, Philippines, Thailand and
Vietnam, however as Chile is defined as an upper-middle income country, it is not included in this analysis. Two countries were surveyed by GSMA Intelligence only in 2019: Senegal
and Uganda. Fieldwork was carried out in September, October and November in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
20. These external sources include Pew, After Access, ITU, the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (HSE) and China Internet Network Information Center.
21. Uganda was not weighted by SEC.
22. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2020), “World Population Prospects 2019”.
23. Where 2017 or 2018 data was the primary input for a country, year-on-year change between 2017, 2018 and 2019 was modelled based on changes in the values of the predictor
variables between the three years.
24. We used data from After Access (Cambodia, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda), the Financial Inclusion Insights Program (Uganda) and Pew Global Attitudes and Trends (Jordan, Lebanon,
Philippines, Senegal, Vietnam), RLMS-HES (Russia) and CNNIC 2019 (China). To calculate gender gap estimates in these countries, we applied the growth rate implied from our
extrapolation model to the years where actual data was available.
52
Table 3 presents the predictor variables used to models.25 Due to these improvements in modelling
estimate the gender gaps in mobile ownership, and changes in underlying data, some of the reported
smartphone ownership and mobile internet use. Some gender gaps in this report differ slightly from those
of the predictors are different from the extrapolation presented in The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2018 and
models used in The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2018, 2019.26
as new data allowed us to improve the accuracy of the
Table 3
Predictor variables used in extrapolation models

Predictor variables for mobile Predictor variables for mobile Predictor variables for
ownership gender gap model internet gender gap model smartphone gender gap model
Composite “income-education” indicator, GDP per capita (Source: IMF) GDP per capita (Source: IMF)
capturing GNI per capita and mean years
of schooling for women (Source: UNDP)
obile phone ownership among adult

M acebook Gender Gap (Source: Facebook
F Facebook Gender Gap (Source: Facebook
women (Source: Gallup World Poll) Audience Insights) Audience Insights)
South Asia “dummy” variable27 South Asia “dummy” variable South Asia “dummy” variable
Mean years of schooling for women Mean years of schooling for women
(Source: UNDP) (Source: UNDP)
25. For example, in the 2018 Mobile Gender Gap Report, we used the female Human Development Index (HDI) as a predictor variable for both the SIM and mobile internet gender gaps.
However, with the availability of more data, our analysis found that both gender gaps are much more strongly predicted by income and education than health (which is a component
of the HDI). Therefore, our models no longer incorporate a health dimension. In addition, updates to external data inputs, which include revisions to previous data points and the
inclusion of the 2019 Consumer Survey (both of which are used to estimate the prediction models) have slightly adjusted some gender gap estimates for previous years.
26. For example, the estimated gender gap in mobile internet use in Europe and Central Asia in 2017 is now six per cent instead of four per cent, as estimated in The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2018.
27. This dummy variable takes a value of 1 if a country is in South Asia. It is included to capture the disproportionately wide gender gap in South Asian countries.
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GSMA The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2020

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Connected Women

The Mobile Gender Gap

Copyright © 2020 GSM Association

This document has been financed by the Swedish

Lead author: Oliver Rowntree Supporting author: Matthew Shanahan

Published March 2020

The mobile gender gap in 2020 8

The journey to mobile internet use 12

The persistent gender gap in mobile ownership 14

Smartphone ownership: sizing the gender gap 20

Growing awareness of mobile internet 28

Mobile internet use by women 30

Understanding women’s mobile use 35

Appendix 1: Barriers to mobile ownership and mobile internet use 43

1. GSMA Intelligence, Q4 2019

IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES:

but has also seen the

1. Affordability 1. Literacy and skills owning a mobile makes

DEFINITIONS FOR THIS REPORT

Male owners / users Female owners / users

MOBILE INTERNET USER

The mobile gender gap

There is still a mobile gender gap, but progress

Regional gender gaps in mobile ownership and mobile internet use,

REGIONAL GENDER GAPS IN REGIONAL GENDER GAPS IN MOBILE

2017 2018 2019

Source: GSMA Intelligence, 2019

Brazil 84% 72%

Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey, 2019

The journey to mobile

8. ITU (2019), www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx

The mobile internet user journey

The persistent gender

Gender gap in mobile ownership in low- and middle-income

Latin America &

Source: GSMA Intelligence, 2019

Barriers to mobile ownership are consistent for

Top barriers to mobile ownership for men and women in surveyed

Total Africa Asia Latin America

Affordability Affordability Affordability Affordability Literacy Literacy Affordability Safety and

Literacy Literacy Literacy Literacy Affordability Affordability Safety and Affordability

Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey, 2019

Additional information on country-level barriers to mobile ownership can be found in Appendix 1.

The benefits of mobile ownership, reported by men and women

Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey, 2019

Share of population by type of handset owned

48% 16% 24%

19% 27% 34%

36% 31% 19%

Source: GSMA Intelligence, 2019

Smartphones are critical to uptake of mobile

Mobile internet user journey by handset type

35-87% 0-33% 0-0.7

33-86% 4-30% 0-0.9

54-95% 5-89% 0.2-4.8

66-100% 18-75% 0.5-4.3

Distribution of country-level results, lowest to highest

Source: GSMA Intelligence, 2019

17. Read more at: https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/blog/how-mobile-operators-can-improve-the-affordability-of-their-services-for-women-to-help-close-the-mobile-

obile phone ownership among adult