October 29, 2018

The International Digital Economy and Society Index (I-DESI) provides an overall assessment of where the EU stands, compared to non-EU economies, in its progress towards a digital society and economy.

First created in 2013, the I-DESI compares the average performance of EU member States with 17 non-EU countries. It measures performance in five dimensions or policy areas: connectivity, human capital (digital skills), use of the internet by citizens, integration of technology and digital public services.

EU Member States on average compare well with the non-EU countries, and the top EU countries are among the best performers globally: six EU Member States were in the “top ten”. The EU average, however, hides important differences between the most and least advanced EU Member State, as shown by the wide gap between the “top” and “bottom” EU Member States in the I-DESI tables.

EU countries on average performed well, relative to the 17 non-EU countries, as regards connectivity, in terms of skills and the use of the internet by citizens. The average EU performance in terms of integration of technology by business also drew level with non-EU countries for the first time since 2013. Provision of digital public services is, however, the one area where EU Member States have consistently tended to perform below their 17 non-EU counterparts in the I-DESI.

Looking at the period 2013 to 2016, all EU Member States have been progressing regularly in the adoption and use of digital technologies. However, the EU as a whole has not managed to close the gap with the US, South Korea and Japan. For further information, click here.