Europe: Digital Progress Report

The data shows that EU member states are at very different stages in the development of the digital economy, ranging from world leaders to slow progress.

Europe’s Digital Progress Report (EDPR) data on key elements of the digital economy – connectivity; digital skills; internet usage; adoption of digital tech by businesses and the development of digital public services.

Key findings:

• 22% of European homes subscribe to fast broadband. Belgium, the Netherlands and Malta lead the way;  Croatia, Greece, Italy lag behind
• Only 28% of rural homes have fast broadband.
• Only 8% of European homes subscribe to ultrafast broadband .  Latvia, Romania and Sweden lead the way
• Mobile internet access has increased significantly. 69% of households now have at least one member with mobile internet access.
• Only 16% of the EU population has never gone online
• However, almost half of the population of Bulgaria and Romania are still digitally excluded
• Small and medium-sized enterprises are losing out on online sales - fewer than 17% of them sell online
• 35% of internet users don't know cookies  can be used to trace people's online movements
• Europe’s top performers (Sweden, Denmark, and Finland) are also leading countries in the global stage, followed by Korea and the United States.

Source and further information.