"Women on average are 14% less likely to own a mobile phone than men, which translates into 200 million fewer women than men owning mobile phones. Women in South Asia are 38% less likely to own a phone than men, highlighting that the gender gap in mobile phone ownership is wider in certain parts of the world. Even when women own mobile phones, there is a significant gender gap in mobile phone usage, which prevents them from reaping the full benefits of mobile phone ownership. Women report using phones less frequently and intensively than men, especially for more sophisticated services such as mobile internet. In most countries, fewer women than men who own phones report using messaging and data services beyond voice. Cost remains the greatest barrier overall to owning and using a mobile phone, particularly for women, who often have less financial independence than men." (Executive summary)
Introduction, 10
Methodology, definitions, and limitations, 16
Mobile phone access and usage, 20
Women’s phone ownership in low- and middle-income countries, 22
Bridging the mobile phone ownership gender gap, 24
The new gender gap: Mobile phone usage, 26
Revenue opportunity of closing the gender gap in mobile phone ownership and use, 32
Borrowers and non-users, 34
Barriers to mobile ownership and usage, 38
Overview of barriers, 40
Barriers from the customer perspective, 41
Systemic barriers, 62
Recommendations, 64
Appendix 1: Country profiles, 70
Appendix 2: Data tables, 118
Appendix 3: Bibliography, 126