This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from Lao PDR statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from Lao statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other Lao-specific metadata information.
Goal |
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls |
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Target |
5.b.1 Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women. |
Indicator |
5.b.1 Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone |
Metadata update |
15 May 2021 |
Related indicators |
Mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions by sex |
Organisation |
Ministry of Technology and Communication (MOTC) |
Contact person(s) |
Chanthone CHANTHAVONG |
Contact organisation unit |
Statistics Division, Department of Planning and Cooperation |
Contact person function |
Head of Division |
Contact email |
chanthonempt@gmail.com |
Definition and concepts |
Definition: The proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex is defined as the “proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex”. Concepts: An individual owns a mobile cellular telephone if he/she has a mobile cellular phone device with at least one active SIM card for personal use. It includes mobile cellular phones supplied by employers that can be used for personal reasons (to make personal calls, access the Internet, etc.) and those who have a mobile phone for personal use that is not registered under his/her name. It excludes individuals who have only active SIM card(s) and not a mobile phone device. Mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions refers to the number of subscriptions to a public mobile-telephone service that provide access to the PSTN using cellular technology. |
Unit of measure |
percent (%) |
Data sources |
Administrative data collected from telecommunications (TELCOs) companies. |
Data collection method |
Data are collected from all licensed mobile-cellular operators in the country, and then aggregated. |
Data collection calendar |
April 2021 |
Data release calendar |
May 2021 |
Data providers |
Licensed Mobile Operator |
Data compilers |
MOTC |
Rationale |
Mobile phone networks have spread rapidly over the last decade and the number of mobile-cellular subscriptions is quasi equal to the number of the people living on earth. However, not every person uses, or owns a mobile-cellular telephone. Mobile phone ownership, in particular, is important to track gender equality since the mobile phone is a personal device that, if owned and not just shared, provides women with a degree of independence and autonomy, including for professional purposes. A number of studies have highlighted the link between mobile phone ownership and empowerment, and productivity growth. Existing data on the proportion of women owning a mobile phone suggest that less women than men own a mobile phone. This indicator highlights the importance of mobile phone ownership to track and to improve gender equality, and monitoring will help design targeted policies to overcome the gender divide. The collection of this indicator was proposed by the Task Group on Gender of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development. |
Comment and limitations |
Only aggregate data are collected and not distinguish by sex. However, the Know Your Customer (KYC) initiative is under way to track the subscription with possibility of obtaining the required breakdown for this indicator. |
Method of computation |
This indicator is calculated by dividing the total number of in-scope individuals who own a mobile phone by the total number of in-scope individuals. |
Data availability and disaggregation |
Only total aggregated data for 2017 is available. |
References and Documentation |
The UNSD SDG Indicators, Metadata repository https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/ |