Closing the Mobile Gender Divide

Mobile phones now serve as a primary point of access to the internet, financial tools, education, healthcare information and commercial activity across many regions. Women in low and middle income countries (LMICs) continue to face substantial barriers in gaining this access. The GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025 presents clear evidence: in these economies, 63 percent of women use mobile internet compared with 74 percent of men.

The economic impact of this gap is substantial. GSMA estimates that closing the gender gap in mobile internet use within LMICs would add 1.3 trillion US dollars to collective GDP from 2023 to 2030. McKinsey’s analysis places global potential at 12 trillion US dollars if broader gender equality advances through improved access and participation.

Gender parity assessments mirror these findings. The 2025 global benchmarks measure outcomes across economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political representation. The combined gap stands at 68.8 percent closed, slightly higher than the previous year’s 68.4 percent. Among the 100 economies tracked since 2006, the figure is 69 percent, and current rates indicate that full parity would require 123 years.

Iceland continues to lead at 92.6 percent. Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Moldova, Namibia, Germany and Ireland complete the top ten, each above 80 percent. High income economies average 74.3 percent. Upper middle income economies stand at 69.6 percent. Lower middle income economies and low income economies are at 66.0 percent and 66.4 percent respectively. Some lower income economies outperform half of the high income group, reflecting differences in political systems, access conditions and localised reforms.

Subindex figures reveal that health and survival reach 96.2 percent, while educational attainment is at 95.1 percent. Economic participation stands at 61 percent, and political representation remains low at 22.9 percent. Long term progress since 2006 shows the most improvement in political representation, at plus nine points and economic participation at plus 5.6 points. Projections estimate 162 years for political parity and 135 years for economic parity.

Regionally, North America leads at 75.8 percent parity, followed by Europe. South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa register the lowest figures and account for a large share of the remaining global gender gap. Bangladesh recorded major gains, advancing seventy five places due to increases in political representation. The United Kingdom and Benin also showed notable improvement.

Workforce participation reached 41.2 percent for women in 2024 with growth seen in infrastructure and other sectors that traditionally have lower female representation. Women remain concentrated in lower paying roles across many countries and representation in leadership remains under 30 percent globally.

The mobile internet gender gap reflects these broader patterns.

Several obstacles continue to limit women’s mobile internet use. Affordability is one of the most significant. Although 83 percent of women in LMICs own a mobile phone, only 61 percent own a smartphone. Women are 14 percent less likely than men to own a smartphone.

Device costs remain high relative to income. One of the biggest obstacles for Pakistani women to use mobile internet is the cost of devices and data. According to GSMA research, monthly mobile ownership — including the cost of a handset and data — can account for more than 20 percent of income for the poorest households in Pakistan. While the UN Broadband Commission’s 2 percent affordability benchmark for mobile data remains out of reach for many, the situation in Pakistan is complex.

An Authentic Connectivity Report by A4AI shows that 1 GB of mobile data in Pakistan costs only 0.51 percent of average monthly income, placing Pakistan within the UN target if we look at mean income figures. But that doesn’t capture the full picture — phone ownership itself remains a huge barrier. GSMA data shows that 35 percent of women in Pakistan rely on borrowed phones to access mobile internet. This reliance reduces privacy, limits how frequently they go online and often restricts them to basic digital activities.

Digital literacy adds further limits. GSMA reports that in South Asia, women are 20 percent less likely to express confidence in using the internet. Limited ability to read or navigate digital interfaces discourages engagement, especially beyond basic functions. Household norms add another layer. Some families restrict internet use among women, due to concerns related to social oversight or household expectations. In households where phones are present, women may have limited independent access.

Safety and trust remain serious obstacles for Pakistani women online. According to reports, about 50 percent of Pakistani women who know about mobile internet but don’t use it, cite safety fears as a major reason. Only 54 percent of women& who borrow a phone use mobile internet daily, compared to 91 percent of women who own one; borrowers average just 1.4 daily use-cases versus 3.0 for owners. Borrowing reduces privacy and limits engagement with financial services, telehealth and other tools that require personal accounts.

Ownership matters not just for access, but for how safely and confidently women engage online. Studies report that 5 percent of Pakistani women worry about unwanted calls or messages and 2 percent cite identity theft or data misuse. Cultural expectations, fear of judgment and risk-averse behaviours limit many to basic communication, rather than exploring banking, e-commerce or other digital services.

However, despite these obstacles, there is good news. Pakistan’s recent progress has led to GSMA identifying the country as one of the strongest performers in digital gender inclusion in 2024. The mobile internet gender gap declined from 38 percent to 25 percent, the largest improvement among all surveyed countries. A major share of this change resulted from increased rural adoption, driven by greater availability of entry level smartphones and strategic outreach programmes.

Moreover, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy created a structured direction for operators and public institutions. Efforts by mobile network operators and community programmes extended digital literacy training and onboarded women into financial and entrepreneurial platforms. Government statements report that nearly eight million women gained mobile internet access during the past year.

For businesses, reduced participation by women represents a missed commercial opportunity. Greater access increases the market for mobile operators, handset makers, fintech platforms, e-commerce and online education providers. Higher digital participation among women also increases labour force engagement, household productivity and overall spending power. McKinsey’s economic projections reflect this linkage between inclusion and growth at national and regional levels.

Practical steps highlighted in the GSMA report include installment based smartphone access, refurbished devices, wider digital literacy programmes, products designed for women’s usage patterns and expanded infrastructure in rural areas. Policymakers can support progress through investment in connectivity, affordable mobile services and consistent enforcement of safety policies. Community programmes that involve household members and local institutions build trust and widen the space for women’s mobile use.

Growing digital activity across global markets places new importance on consistent access for women. The current gap signals the scale of untapped economic potential. Greater mobile internet participation among women strengthens local economies, enhances resilience and widens opportunities for households and communities. The data supports this conclusion and sets a clear direction for the coming years.