The finding came after experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer investigated why poorer women have a higher risk of the disease.
Until now, experts thought that the difference in cases of the disease could be just because poorer women were less likely to go for cervical screening.
But researchers now think the difference is largely because poorer women start having sex an average of four years earlier.
Cervical cancer is largely triggered by the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) - which is sexually transmitted.
Dr Silvia Franceschi, a lead author of the study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, said: "We weren't sure why cervical cancer is more common in poorer women.
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