Women use internet more than men in the Philippines — SWS

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino women use the internet more than men, according to a latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The poll, taken from March 28 to 31, showed a record-high 50 percent of Filipino women who are internet users, up a point from 49 percent recorded in December last year.

On the other hand, four in 10 or 41 percent of Filipino men use the internet, down from 44 percent previously.

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults,
18 years old and above, nationwide. SWS said the respondents of the March 2019 Social Weather Survey included an equal number of men and women.

Meanwhile, the number of internet users in the country hardly changed between December 2018 and March 2019.

The SWS survey found that 46 percent of adult Filipinos use the internet.

This was statistically similar to the record-high 47 percent in December 2018.

Internet use remained highest in Metro Manila and in urban areas, the pollster said.

The proportion of internet users in Metro Manila was at 64 percent (up from 59 percent in December 2018), 48 percent in balance Luzon (down from 56 percent), 39 percent in Mindanao (up from 32 percent) and 34 percent in the Visayas (down from 35 percent).

The number of internet users in urban areas dropped to 56 percent in March 2019 from 62 percent in December 2018. In rural areas, 38 percent are internet users, from 37 percent previously.

Internet use also remained higher among younger and more educated Filipinos.

By age, the proportion of internet users was highest among 18- to 24-year-olds at 86 percent (down from 88 percent in December 2018).

This was followed by those aged 25 to 34 at 71 percent (up from 69 percent); 35 to 44 years at 55 percent (down from 56 percent); 45 to 54 years at 30 percent (down from 32 percent); and those aged 55 years and above at 14 percent (down from 17 percent).

By educational attainment, it was highest among college graduates at 79 percent (up from 77 percent in December 2018), followed by high school graduates at 58 percent (down from 60 percent); elementary graduates at 33 percent (up from 31 percent) and non-elementary graduates at 11 percent (down from 15 percent).

Since it was first asked in June 2006, internet use has always been highest in Metro Manila as compared to other general areas, balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, the SWS noted.

In June 2006, only eight percent of Filipino adults were internet users.