Determinants of financial inclusion and the digital divide among Somali women: evidence from the 2020 Somalia Demographic and Health survey

Financial inclusion and digital access drive women’s economic empowerment, yet determinants in fragile states remain under-researched. This study provides a micro-level empirical analysis of these phenomena among women in Somalia, where a vibrant mobile money market coexists with deep structural barriers. Using 2020 Somalia Demographic and Health Survey data (N=12,408), we employed multivariate logistic regression to identify distinct predictors for each outcome. Findings reveal a bifurcated reality: financial inclusion is driven by pragmatic necessity, with nomadic women having significantly higher odds of inclusion (AOR=2.57; 95% CI [1.68, 3.94]) than urban counterparts, reflecting heavy reliance on mobile money. Conversely, the digital divide follows a socio-economic gradient: wealth and secondary education increase Internet access odds by over 14 and 15 times, respectively. Strikingly, textual literacy is negatively associated with Internet use (AOR=0.32; 95% CI [0.25, 0.41]), suggesting a hypothesized "digital orality" where non-textual platforms facilitate digital participation. This study documents a context-specific literacy–digital paradox in a fragile state. Policy interventions should strengthen mobile money ecosystems while exploring voice-based approaches to digital fluency to mitigate exclusion in Somalia’s evolving digital economy.