38% of African women are now internet users, up from 23% in 2020 – ITU

About 38% of women (as against 45% for men) in Africa are now using the internet in 2026. This is according to a November 2026 report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) titled Measuring digital development: Facts and Figures.

The increase from 23% in 2020 shows women are greatly bridging the gender gap and putting past inferiorities behind them by latching on to technological advancements and the new world of work. 

While men’s internet usage increased by 14 percentage points (pp) from 31% in 2020 to 45%, African women witnessed a 15pp surge. This shows that African women’s internet usage grew at a faster absolute rate than men’s during this timeframe.

Also Read: Despite improvement, only 49% of women still own a smartphone in Nigeria. Here’s why.

The latest data shows women are gaining access to the internet at a faster rate than men. While a 7% gender digital divide still remains across the continent, the latest growth tells a lot about how African women are bypassing structural barriers and dismantling cultural stereotypes.

Deep-rooted norms in many communities suggested that technology was a male domain, or that women lacked the interest and capacity for digital literacy. However, the growth reveals that the moment connectivity becomes even slightly accessible to women, they adopt it at a faster rate than men.

In sub-Saharan Africa, women face several internet access constraints, ranging from economic disparities to lower average incomes and reduced financial independence. These are critical issues at a time when smartphone prices and the cost of data subscriptions make up a significant portion of the household budget. 

Despite these constraints, global reports often reveal that connected African women frequently purchase larger data packages and utilise mobile browsers just as intensively as men. Through use of TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Netflix, they are prioritising data as an essential utility rather than a luxury. 

Outside Africa, the gender gap is tighter in the global context. While 79% of men use the internet according to a 2026 report, 74% of women are also on the internet. Another proof of growth in women’s internet adoption is that both men and women grew at the same rate of 16pp between 2020 and 2026. 

Youths dominate internet usage

In Africa, 60% of people aged 15 to 24 use the internet, 23 percentage points more than the rest of the population (37%). 

Africa is already home to the world’s youngest population, with approximately 60% of its people under the age of 25. It’s not surprising that this young cohort is driving a rapid digital transformation and the continent’s increasing demand for high-speed internet connections. 

At instances when the high prices of mobile data and devices become a major hurdle for youth, instead of owning a device, younger adolescents between 15 and 20 rely on borrowing someone else’s phone to go online. 

Globally, 86% of people aged 15 to 24 use the internet in 2026, compared to 76% of the rest of the population. In high-income countries, the percentage of youth online is 99%, while Europe holds the highest for youths at 98%.

In 2026, 76% of the world’s population is online, compared with 74% in 2025.  This corresponds to 6.3 billion people, up from 6.1 billion last year. Year-on-year growth has increased slightly to 3%, up from 2.5%.

It also means that about 2 billion people are still without the internet owing to affordability. The report shows that high-income countries have 93% of the population online. In low-income countries, only 32% of the population is online. 

Also Read: 140 million Nigerians are offline despite internet access – GSMA.