The percentage of women accessing the web on their mobile phones has risen 575 per cent in two years, according to web browser Opera’s latest ‘State of the Mobile Web’ report. 

South Africa leads the world’s push for gender equality on the mobile web, with women accounting for nearly 44 per cent of mobile web users (up from 24.7 per cent in May 2008). 

The report provides regular information on the top global trends affecting the mobile web and finds that, after South Africa, the highest percentage of female users are in the US – increased from 19.4 per cent in May 2008 to 35.6 per cent, followed by Russia with 32.4 per cent (up from 12.5 per cent) and the UK, 31.5 per cent (up from 16.6 per cent). 

India has the fewest female users – four per cent, followed by Nigeria with 5.4 per cent, China with 11.6 per cent and Vietnam with 17.9 per cent.