In poorest nations, a third fewer women than men online with gap widening

In 2016, the internet usage rate among women is 12 percent lower than that among men

Despite growing mobile subscribers, India has the world’s largest offline population – 865 million – followed by China (661 million) and Indonesia (207 million), notes a new report.

The gender gap in internet access is still widening

Especially in low-income countries, women remain, overwhelmingly, offline. “In the average low-income country in the Index, 94 percent of the female population is offline, and 41 percent does not even have access to a mobile phone,” the report observes.

As of 2016, the divide in connectivity is also increasing: the internet usage rate among women is 12 percent lower than that among men.