Increasing number of African women are using the internet

A new report by GSMA has revealed that a surge in mobile phone ownership among women in Africa has led to a significant decrease in the mobile internet adoption gender gap. The report, titled ‘Mobile Gender Gap Report 2024’, highlights the progress made in narrowing the gender gap in mobile internet usage across 12 low-and-middle-income countries.

According to the report, the gender gap in mobile internet adoption has dropped to 32%, the lowest level since 2017. This improvement is attributed to the increasing rate of mobile phone ownership among women in the region, which has risen from 63% in 2017 to 71% in 2023.

Countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt have shown significant progress in reducing the gender gap in mobile ownership, with the smallest gaps recorded at 1%, 5%, and 6% respectively. However, there is still room for improvement, as only 32% of women in Africa own smartphones compared to 80% in East Asia and the Pacific.

The report also highlights the barriers to mobile internet adoption faced by women, including affordability, literacy, and digital skills. Despite these challenges, the report emphasizes the resilience of women who access the internet on borrowed devices when they do not own smartphones.

GSMA recommends a focus on gender equality at both organizational and policy levels, as well as collaboration with stakeholders to address women’s needs in the design of mobile-internet-related products. Closing the gender gap in low- and middle-income countries by 2030 could represent a US$230bn revenue opportunity for the mobile industry, according to GSMA.