Pakistan sees major jump in women's mobile internet adoption

A notable surge in mobile internet usage among women in Pakistan was highlighted in the GSMA’s “Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025”, marking a significant step towards bridging the country's gender digital divide.

The report revealed that women’s mobile internet usage in Pakistan has been steadily rising over the past few years, with a particularly significant increase recorded in 2024.

For the first time since 2021, the gender gap in mobile internet usage narrowed from 38% to 25%. This means the difference in mobile internet use between Pakistani men and women has been reduced to 25%, marking substantial progress in digital inclusion.

According to GSMA, this shift was made possible as mobile internet usage among women rose from 33% in 2023 to 45% in 2024.

This is the highest rate of mobile internet adoption among women in Pakistan to date, largely driven by increased usage in rural areas.

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During the same period, male mobile internet usage also rose by 7%, indicating overall growth in digital connectivity.

Commenting on this development, Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim said, “This progress is not just a statistic, but a reflection of millions of Pakistani women stepping into the digital economy for the first time.”

The report also found that awareness of mobile internet is nearly equal among men and women in Pakistan, 89% and 86%, respectively, indicating narrowing gaps not just in access, but in digital awareness as well.

The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025 covers 15 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including nations in Sub-Saharan Africa such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as Egypt in North Africa. The survey also extended to several countries across South Asia and other regions.