World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

  To help close the gender digital divide, we invite you to: Promote gender-responsive policies  that enable women’s active participation in the tech sector Ensure equal access to digital skills  and training for women and girls Foster global partnerships  across governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to  scale impact Check out the Advocacy toolkit to support the campaign Find resources and opportunities to mark WTISD-25 and help close the digital gender gap.  Get involved

Despite progress, inequality remains a barrier to digital inclusion . According to Facts and Figures 2024 : 70% of men use the Internet globally , compared to 65% of women, a gap that leaves 189 million more men online than women worldwide. While the digital gender gap has narrowed in many developed countries, it has widened in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), where only 29% of women are using the internet compared to 41% of men. Gaps persist not only in access, but also in affordability, digital skills , participation in STEM , and leadership in the tech sector . These gaps not only disadvantage women and girls, they also hinder economic growth, innovation in countries around the world, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .  

Data is critical to our Goal of connecting the world . It tells us where we were, where we are, what works and what does not. Data is a key ingredient of empirical research for establishing correlation, determining causality, identifying good practices, and designing effective interventions. ITU leads the global ICTs statistics agenda . It collects, actively uses the Data and Statistics to monitor digital divide , and disseminates vital information and carries out world-class research to Support evidence-based decision making towards universal and meaningful connectivity and sustained digital transformation : e.g., through ITU DataHub , ITU’s annual Facts and figures and ICT price trends , and the Digital Development Dashboard .