810m women offline as Africa’s digital gender gap threatens $1.3tn growth

The global push toward a digital economy risks leaving millions of women behind, with a new report revealing that 810 million women across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) still do not use mobile internet, a gap that could cost emerging economies an estimated $1.3 trillion in economic growth by 2030.

The findings, released in the GSMA’s Mobile Gender Gap Report 2026, highlight the scale of digital exclusion facing women despite years of investment in mobile networks, smartphone adoption, and digital transformation initiatives across Africa, Asia, and other developing regions.

According to the report, women in LMICs remain 12 percent less likely than men to use mobile internet, translating into about 200 million fewer women online than men. The challenge is particularly severe in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where more than two-thirds of the world’s offline women live.

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The report comes at a time when governments and businesses are increasingly relying on digital platforms to deliver financial services, healthcare, education, commerce, and public services. Industry experts warn that unless women are brought online at a faster pace, existing economic and social inequalities could deepen as artificial intelligence, digital payments, and online services become more central to daily life.

For Africa, the findings expose a major contradiction. While the continent continues to witness expansion of mobile broadband networks and growing investments in digital infrastructure, millions of women remain disconnected from the opportunities those technologies provide.

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded one of the widest mobile internet gender gaps globally at 26 percent, according to the report. The divide is even more pronounced in rural communities, where women are often two to three times less likely to access mobile internet compared to their urban counterparts.

The GSMA said affordability remains the biggest obstacle preventing women from getting online. Many women still struggle to purchase smartphones, while the cost of mobile data continues to limit usage even for those who have access to internet-enabled devices.

The report estimates that approximately 210 million fewer women than men own smartphones across LMICs, creating a significant barrier to digital participation.

Beyond affordability, literacy and digital skills remain major constraints. Women are more likely to face educational disadvantages, lower income levels, and social norms that limit their ability to adopt and use digital technologies.

Even when women gain internet access, challenges persist. Safety and security concerns, fears around online harassment, and poor connectivity experiences continue to discourage regular use of digital services.

Claire Sibthorpe, head of digital inclusion at the GSMA, said the slow pace of progress remains a concern despite some improvements recorded since 2022.

“While there has been a slow narrowing of the mobile gender gap since 2022, much more is needed to address the persistent and significant gender gaps in mobile internet adoption and use.

“We live in an increasingly digital world and the proliferation of technologies such as AI are creating greater digital divides and inequities, elevating the need to ensure digital inclusion for all,” she said.

The economic stakes are substantial. According to the GSMA, closing the gender gap in mobile internet adoption between 2023 and 2030 could generate an additional $1.3 trillion in GDP across low- and middle-income countries. It could also create about $230 billion in additional revenue opportunities for the global mobile industry.

The projections underscore a growing recognition among policymakers and telecom operators that women’s digital inclusion is no longer just a social development issue but an economic imperative.

For countries such as Nigeria, where digital services are increasingly driving financial inclusion, e-commerce growth, digital banking, and government service delivery, ensuring women have equal access to mobile internet could unlock significant productivity gains.

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The report suggests that targeted interventions will be required to close the gap. These include reducing the cost of smartphones and data, expanding digital literacy programmes, improving online safety, designing products tailored to women’s needs, and addressing broader structural inequalities that limit access to technology.

Industry efforts have already demonstrated some success. Through the GSMA Connected Women Commitment Initiative, more than 50 mobile operators have collectively connected over 90 million additional women to mobile internet or mobile money services since 2016.

However, the latest findings indicate that progress remains too slow relative to the scale of the challenge.

As governments across Africa pursue ambitious digital economy targets and prepare for an AI-driven future, the report warns that the continent’s digital transformation agenda may fall short unless women are fully included. The 810 million women still offline represent not only a significant development challenge but also one of the largest untapped economic opportunities in the global digital economy.