More than 340 million women and girls could benefit from closing the gender digital divide by 2050.

The rapid expansion of digital infrastructure is transforming economies and societies. Yet persistent barriers limit women’s and girls’ prospects to gain from emerging technologies. Globally, 70 per cent of men use the Internet compared to 65 per cent of women. Disparities are most pronounced in low-income countries and among adolescent girls and young women (15–24), who are more likely to lack digital tools and miss opportunities for learning, work and development. Some promising developments aim to close this divide. In Uganda, the Digital Uganda Vision 2040 has hosted national and regional events that increased digital inclusion by engaging girls in coding workshops, mentorship programmes and practical skills training. Costa Rica’s National Broadband Plan 2022–2027 makes women’s digital access a core priority and sets explicit targets for building their digital skills. The plan aims to train 6,000 people over age 40, at least 50 per cent of whom will be women, on using new technology. 

Towards closing the gender digital divide, a simulation analysis shows the promise of interventions such as increased access to technology (mobile and fixed broadband and mobile phone subscriptions), higher female educational attainment and greater female labour force participation. Approximately 343.5 million women and girls globally could benefit by 2050. About 176 million would be in sub-Saharan Africa, where 45.5 per cent of men are online compared to 31.3 per cent of women – a gap of 14.2 percentage points. cliv In terms of economic benefits, closing the gender digital divide could benefit the global economy some $1.5 trillion by 2030.

Number of women and girls benefiting from closing the gender digital divide, by region, 2050 (millions)