Digital Transformation Accelerates, But Gaps Underscore Need For New Framework, New UN Survey Shows

Sunday, 22 September 2024, 4:15 pm
Press Release: UN Department of Global Communications

New York, 17 September 2024 – Despite intersecting and
compounding global crises in recent years, nations and
regions worldwide have accelerated their commitment to
digital government strategies, according to the 2024 edition
of the United Nations E-Government Survey –
Accelerating Digital Transformation for Sustainable
Development, launched by the United Nations
today.

This year’s edition of the Survey, presents
Denmark, Estonia and Singapore as leading the 2024 digital
government ranking of the 193 United Nations Member States,
scoring the highest when it comes to the scope and quality
of online services, the status of telecommunication
infrastructure and human capacity. 

Runners-up in
the highest digital rating class are Republic of Korea,
Iceland, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, Australia, Finland, Netherlands, United
Arab Emirates, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand,
Spain and Bahrain. Regional leaders are South Africa
(Africa), United States (Americas), Singapore (Asia),
Denmark (Europe) and Australia (Oceania).

The Survey
shows that significant strides have been made to digital
governance, boosted by investments in resilient
infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies like artificial
intelligence, cloud computing and broadband. Yet, while
digital transformation has sparked innovation and growth,
particularly in the private sector, many countries still
face hurdles in fully leveraging these advancements to
enhance public services and participation, key components
for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).

“The Survey highlights the strides made in
digital government and addressing the persistent digital
divide, particularly in regions like Africa and Oceania.
While the divide may not be fully bridged by 2030, the
latest advancements present a significant opportunity,”
said Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for
Economic and Social Affairs. “By accelerating efforts and
adopting innovative, inclusive solutions, we can ensure that
all nations benefit from the transformative power of digital
government, making public administration more effective,
resilient and equitable.”

For the first time, Member
States with very high E-Government Development Index (EGDI)
values, comprise the largest share, accounting for 39 per
cent of the total number of countries assessed. Overall,
71.5 per cent of Member States are now at the high or very
high EGDI levels.

Owing to remarkable improvements in
service provision and telecommunications infrastructure, the
global EGDI average has increased overall with the
proportion of the population lagging in digital government
development decreasing from 45.0 percent in 2022 to 22.4
percent in 2024. This progress is largely due to significant
advancements in Asia, and steady improvement in the
Americas, where more countries have joined the very high
EGDI group.

While all regions have achieved progress
in various areas, the pace of development has been uneven
and regional disparities persist. Europe is leading in
e-government development, but Asia is advancing more rapidly
than the other four regions with 53 per cent of countries in
the region having very high EGDI values. In Africa,
Mauritius and South Africa have moved up to the high EGDI
group, marking the first-time countries from this region
have reached the highest level. However, most African
countries have EGDI levels below the global
average.

Significant disparities in digital
infrastructure, connectivity, digital skills and
e-government readiness persist within the region. Oceania is
characterized by significant variability in digital
development with Australia and New Zealand remaining
regional and global leaders, while the Small Islands
Developing States (SIDS) still face substantial challenges
in digital advancement.

The United Nations
E-Government Survey, published by the Department of Economic
and Social Affairs, is prepared over a two-year period
following an established methodology. It looks at how
digital government can facilitate integrated policies and
services across 193 UN Member States. The Survey will be
made available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian
and Spanish, thanks to the collaboration with external
partners.
For more information:

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