STATISTICAL SERVICE OF CYPRUS (CYSTAT)

ICT SURVEYS

STATISTICAL SERVICE OF CYPRUS

CY-1444, NICOSIA

CYPRUS

The EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals is an annual survey conducted since 2002. In Cyprus, it has been conducted since 2004.

In 2023, the survey collects data on the access to information and communication technologies (ICT), on the use of the internet, e-government, electronic identification (eID) and e-commerce, e-skills, as well as privacy and protection of personal data.

National language: ΕΡΕΥΝΑ ΧΡΗΣΗΣ ΤΕΧΝΟΛΟΓΙΩΝ ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΙΚΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΙΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΩΝ ΣΤΑ ΝΟΙΚΟΚΥΡΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΠΟ ΑΤΟΜΑ 2023

English: SURVEY ON ICT USAGE AND E-COMMERCE IN HOUSEHOLDS AND BY INDIVIDUALS 2023

Questionnaire(s) in national language(s) and the translation in English are available in the Annexes below.

The following common concepts and definitions apply under the Integrated European Social Statistics (IESS):

• the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011 published in the following breakdowns: low (ISCED levels 0-2: no formal education, primary education or lower secondary education), medium (ISCED levels 3-4: upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education) and high (ISCED levels 5-6: tertiary programmes which normally need a successful completion of ISCED 3 or 4, or second-stage tertiary education leading to an advanced research qualification);
• the International Standard Classification for Occupation ISCO-08 at the 2-digit level;
• the Classification of Economic Activities (NACE Rev.2-2008), at section level;
• the Common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS 1) – finer granularity of NUTS 2 is provided on optional basis by some Member States;
• the SCL – Geographical code list;
• information about household income is provided at lower level of detail. 

Additional classifications used in the national questionnaire:   No deviation of classifications from ESS or other international standards and breakdowns used in data. No additional classifications used in the national questionnaire.

The ICT survey in households and by individuals covers those households having at least one member in the age group 16 to 74 years old. Internet access of households refers to the percentage of households that have an internet access, so that anyone in the household could use the internet.

No differences in scope at National Level. No deviations from EUROSTAT scope.

The survey is collecting data of internet users, individuals who have used the internet in the three months prior to the survey. 

This annual survey is used to benchmark ICT-driven developments, both by following developments for core variables over time and by looking in greater depth at other aspects at a specific point in time. While the survey initially concentrated on access and connectivity issues, its scope has subsequently been extended to cover a variety of subjects (for example, the use of internet, e-government, eID, and e-commerce, e-skills and privacy and protection of personal data) and socio-economic analysis (such as regional diversity, gender specificity, differences in age, education and the employment situation). The scope of the survey with respect to different technologies is also adapted so as to cover new product groups and means of delivering communication technologies to end-users.

For more details on the methodology applicable in each survey year, please consult the Compiler's Manual for the respective year.

Deviations from standard ICT concepts:  No deviations from the standard ICT concepts and definitions provided in the annual model questionnaire and the methodological manual of the survey.

Households and Individuals

In the ICT usage survey, the target population for the different statistical units is:

- individuals: all individuals aged 16 to 74;

- households: all (private) households with at least one member aged 16 to 74. 

Target population composed of households and/or individuals:

• Number of households:  335 459
• Number of individuals:  681 776
  

Non-compulsory age groups also included in the target population:

Government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

Year 2023

Not applicable

Percentages of ‘Households’ and Percentages of ‘Individuals’

For most questions the reference period is the last three months before the interview. Questions in the modules on e-government and eID refer to the 'last year' before the interview.

Deviation from this assertion: First quarter of 2023. The reference periods defined in the model questionnaire were followed

Beginning date: 01/04/2023

End date: 30/6/2023

The legal basis for the 2023 EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals is the Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 October 2019 establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, based on data at individual level collected from samples (OJ  L 261 I, 14.10.2019, p. 1), as implemented by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1399 of 1 August 2022 specifying the technical items of the data set, establishing the technical formats for transmission of information and specifying the detailed arrangements and content of the quality reports on the organisation of a sample survey in the use of information and communication technologies domain for reference year 2023 in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 213, 16.08.2022, pp. 13-56) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2279 of 1 August 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council by specifying the number and titles of the variables for the use of information and communication technologies statistics domain for the reference year 2023.

Complementary national legislation constituting the legal basis for the survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals:  Article 3 of the Official Statistics Law, No. 25(I) of 2021 defines the functions of the Statistical Service of Cyprus regarding the production and dissemination of official statistics. Moreover, Article 13, explicitly stipulates the mandate for data collection and introduces a mandatory response to statistical enquiries by stipulating the obligation of respondents to reply to surveys and provide the data required. This relates not only to national but also to European statistics which, by virtue of Article 8 of the said Law, are incorporated in the annual and multiannual programmes of work without any further procedure.

Not Applicable

Official statistics are released in accordance to all confidentiality provisions of the following:

• Official Statistics Law No. 25(I) of 2021 (especially Article 16 on statistical confidentiality).
• Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics and its later amendments (especially Chapter 5 on statistical confidentiality).
• European Statistics Code of Practice (especially Principle 5 on statistical confidentiality).
• CYSTAT's Code of Practice for the Collection, Publication and Storage of Statistical Data.

The treatment of confidential data is regulated by CYSTAT's Code of Practice for the Collection, Publication and Storage of Statistical Data.

Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on CYSTAT’s website. The annual release calendar, announced during the 4^th quarter of each year, includes provisional dates which are finalised the week before publication.

The release calendar is available on the website of the Statistical Service of Cyprus.

According to the Dissemination and Pricing Policy of the Statistical Service of Cyprus (section 2.3) CYSTAT΄s main channel for dissemination of statistics is the website, which offers the same conditions to everyone and is updated at the same time every working day (12:00 noon). Privileged pre-released access (of no more than 1 day in advance) has been granted to a few selected users for specific statistics. These are specified in the Dissemination Policy (section 2.3).

In addition to the annual release calendar, users are informed of the various statistical releases through the “Alert” service provided by CYSTAT.

Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on CYSTAT’s website.

The annual release calendar, announced during the 4^th quarter of each year, includes provisional dates which are finalised the week before publication.

The Release Calendar is updated every Friday and contains the following:

1. (a) Confirmed announcements: announcements which are scheduled to be released in the following week,
2. (b) Preliminary announcements: announcements to be released until the end of the year, and
3. (c) Published announcements: published announcements.

The data release policy of CYSTAT regarding the ICT data is the same as the general policy.

Annual

Results from the survey are available on the website of the Statistical Service of Cyprus under the Statistical Theme ''Science and Technology / Information Society''. 

Results from the survey are available on the web portal of the Statistical Service of Cyprus under the Statistical Theme “Science and Technology / Information Society”.

Results (on-line database) from the survey are available on the web portal of the Statistical Service of Cyprus under the Statistical Theme “Science and Technology / Information Society”.

Not applicable

Statistical micro-data from CYSTAT’s surveys are accessible for research purposes only and under strict provisions as described below:

Under the provisions of the Official Statistics Law, CYSTAT may release microdata for the sole use of scientific research. Applicants have to submit the request form "APPLICATION FOR DATA FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES" giving thorough information on the project for which micro-data are needed.

The application is evaluated by CYSTAT’s Confidentiality Committee and if the application is approved, a charge is fixed according to the volume and time consumed for preparation of the data. Micro-data may then be released after an anonymisation process which ensures no direct identification of the statistical units but, at the same time, ensures usability of the data. The link for the application is attached below.

Summary Results describing the results of the survey illustrated with figures (see Annexes - Summary Results: ICT usage in Households and by Individuals 2023)

Enumerators Instructions (see Annexes - Enumerators Instructions ICT usage in Households and by Individuals 2023

Not applicable

Summary Results describing the results of the survey illustrated with figures (see Annexes - Summary Results: ICT usage in Households and by Individuals 2023)

Enumerators Instructions (see Annexes - Enumerators Instructions ICT usage in Households and by Individuals 2023)

Metadata completeness rate is 100%.

CYSTAT has set its strategic goal to provide high-quality statistical information in an objective, transparent, reliable and timely manner. For this reason, CYSTAT established the "Quality Policy" which forms the basis of all statistical activities and leads towards continuous improvement of its statistical output.

The quality of statistics in CYSTAT is managed in the framework of the European Statistics Code of Practice which sets the standards for developing, producing and disseminating European Statistics as well as the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). CYSTAT endorses the Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System. In addition, CYSTAT is guided by the requirements provided for in Article 11 of the Official Statistics Law No. 25(I) of 2021 as well as Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics, which sets out the quality criteria to be applied in the development, production and dissemination of European statistics.

The Methodological Manual provides guidelines and standards for the implementation of the surveys in the Member States. It is updated every year according to the changed contents of the model questionnaires.

The Methodological Manual provided by Eurostat includes the guidelines and standard quality criteria used by CYSTAT for the implementation of the survey. The Eurostat model questionnaire on ICT usage in Households and by Individuals for 2023 was used.

Not available

Since 2008 (with the exception of 2010 and 2013) CYSTAT carries out an annual online “Users Satisfaction Survey”. The results of the surveys are available on CYSTAT’s website at the link attached below.

Overall, the users of statistical data published by CYSTAT are satisfied.

All of the variables required for transmission have been included in the microdata

Data completeness rate is considered to be 100%.

As the results of the survey are based on a sample of population they are subject to the usual types of errors associated with sampling techniques and interviews. The data resulting from the survey are considered reliable. The estimated standard error does not exceed 2% for the overall proportions and 5% for the proportions relating to the different subgroups of the population

The sampling error reflects the fact that only a particular sample was surveyed rather than the entire population. 

The sampling error was calculated using the package ReGenesees in R. More specifically, the functions ext.calibrated, svystatTM and svystatR of ReGenesees were used.

The function ext.calibrated takes into account the sampling design, the stratification and the calibration model, for the calculation of standards errors. The function svystatTM computes the standard errors for totals and means, whereas the function svystatR computes the standards errors for ratios.

More information can be found at: https://diegozardetto.github.io/ReGenesees/

Precision estimates for the question "Individuals having ordered goods or services for private use over the internet in the last 12 months" (individuals who ticked 'Within the last 3 months' or 'Between 3 months and a year ago' in in the question “When did  you last buy or order goods or services for private use over the internet?”):

Number of respondents (absolute value for ‘Yes’ answers):    1832

Estimated proportion (in %):   56.83

Standard error (in percentage points):   1.02

Details of the breakdowns are available in document INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_2023_CY in the Annexes below. 

See more details on non-sampling error below.

Not Applicable

71 households out of the 2201 in the gross sample were out of the scope of the survey since there was no person ‹=74 in these households.

Not requested in the ICT survey.

1)       Measurement errors:  Not applicable

2)       Questionnaire design and testing:  

The questionnaire used was the model questionnaire provided by Eurostat. No additional efforts were made regarding the questionnaire design and testing.

3)       Interviewer training:

The interviewers engaged for the survey were trained before the beginning of the survey. During the training the interviewers were trained in the:

• different aspects of the questionnaire (different topics covered by the survey, concepts and definitions)
• interview techniques
• the use of CAPI and CATI
• procedures regarding the day to day operation of the survey (collection of questionnaire, delivery of completed questionnaires, clarifications regarding the data collected, travelling, etc.)

They were also provided with a set of enumerators instructions (see annex attached-Enumerators Instructions- ICT usage in Households and by Individuals 2023). During the survey period they delivered the completed questionnaires on a weekly basis and they were monitored on a regularly basis by the responsible officer (supervisor).

4)       Proxy interview rates:  Not applicable

Information about non-respondents:  No specific characteristics of the non-respondents (non contacts and refusals) were identified.

The unit non-response rate is the ratio of the number of in-scope non-respondents (= number of rejected interviews) to the number of eligible elements selected from the sampling frame.

Unit non-response rate for

• Households:   6.4
• Individuals (aged 16-74):  0.3

 Comments, if any: type of unit non - response (eligible cases) 121 households and 12 individuals 16-74

1)       Methods used for dealing with unit non-response:  

The methods used in order to minimize the unit non-response were:

• interviewers tried to obtain the telephone numbers by leaving a letter explaining the situation and asking households to call them and arrange for an interview
• interviewers tried to find the telephone numbers of the households through the corresponding municipalities
• in case of a member’s absence, the interviewer would revisit the household or contact the household member by telephone

2)       Methods used for minimizing unit non-response:  

The initial weights (grossing-up factors) are adjusted in order to take into account non-response.

Factor HH_ij = N_ij /(n_ij*r_ij)

where, i=1,3,4,5,6 (district) and j=1,2 (urban or rural)

N_ij = Total number of households in stratum ij in the population

n_ij = Total number of households in stratum ij in the sample

r_ij = Response rate in stratum ij

3)       Substitution permitted:  

(i.e. another person in the household than the one who was randomly selected can answer the questions): Proxy interviews were allowed only in the case of persons that were not at home or it was difficult to contact them. In this case someone else in the household was interviewed

4)       Substitution rate (in %): 25.8%

Items with low response rates (observed rates in %): Item non-response rate: 0%

Not Applicable

Not requested for ICT Survey

Date of data dissemination at national level: Date of data dissemination at national level was on 14 December, 2023.

The last fully validated delivery of data was on 5 October, 2023.

The time lags (in days) between the actual delivery of the data and the target date was 0 days

The time lags (in days) between the actual delivery of the data and the target date was 0 days.

There is no problem of comparability across the country’s regions.

Not relevant

Possible limitations in the use of data for comparisons over time:  Not relevant

The length of comparable time series depends on the module and variable considered within each of the modules of the survey.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

All statistics are coherent within the dataset.

MANDATORY questions in the Eurostat model questionnaire 2023:

Table 15.4.1. of document INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_2023_CY in the Annexes lists the questions for which the coverage of subjects and characteristics differs from of Annex 2 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2279 of 1 August 2022. 

Adoption of OPTIONAL questions and items in the Eurostat model questionnaire 2023:

Table 15.4.2. of document INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_2023_CY in the Annexes lists the optional questions from the annual Eurostat model questionnaire 2023 included in the national questionnaire and their coverage for age groups beyond the standard scope. 

Additional questions introduced in the national questionnaire in 2023:  

A2. What is the maximum contracted download speed of the fastest fixed Internet connection of your household?

1. a) Less than 10 Mbit/s,
2. b) At least 10 Mbit/s but less than 30 Mbit/s,
3. c) At least 30 Mbit/s but less than 100 Mbit/s and
4. d) At least 100 Mbit/s

A3. Why does your household not upgrade this connection to higher data transfer speeds (more than 100 Mbit/s)?

• a) Unnecessary,
• b) High cost,
• c) Lack of skills and
• d) No proper broadband connection in the area

Effects of deviations from the routing used in the Eurostat model questionnaire:  The additional questions were not used as filter questions, and thus the routing used in the Eurostat model questionnaire was not affected.

A data revision policy is in place at CYSTAT. It is published on CYSTAT’s web portal.

CYSTAT also publishes a list of scheduled revisions (regular or major revisions), also published on its website.

Not applicable

Not relevant

The source of the raw data is described with more details in the paragraphs below.

Name and short description of the sampling frame or register used:

The sampling frame used for the selection of the sample was the 2021 Population Census, with reference date the 1st of October 2021. The sampling units are the households. Districts, municipalities, quarters, addresses, names, telephone numbers are also included in the frame for each household.

In order to reduce the burden on respondents, households selected in other surveys and in ICT surveys in previous years, are excluded before the selection of the sample. However, grossing up factors are based on the frame before exclusion of these households.

No RDD (Random Digit Dialing) was used.

Type of source

No the sample is not drawn from another survey or from a micro census or from a master sample.

 Survey vehicle

The survey is considered to be a combined survey since it includes some additional national questions. Two national questions not foreseen in the EU questionnaire were included in the survey. The total burden of those national questions is estimated to be less than 5 responses.

Two questions refer to the household. The questions refer to the maximum contracted download speed of the fastest fixed Internet connection of the household and the reasons why the household does not upgrade to higher data transfer speeds.

Survey participation

The survey is mandatory

Shortcomings

The sampling frame used was the 2021 Population Census Frame which has as reference date 1 October 2021 and thus the problem of timeliness we faced in previous years will no longer exist.

In rural areas, two-stage sampling is used. Communities are the primary sampling units, while households are the secondary sampling units. Neighbouring communities with a small number of households are merged in order to create complexes with a minimum number of households. The sample of communities is selected with Probability Proportional to the Size of the community (PPS). A simple random sample of households is selected from each community. The sample size of households is the same for all communities / complexes.

 Sampling design(s) – probability design: The sampling design is a probability design: Yes

 Sampling stages

1) Number of sampling stages: One stage sampling in urban areas and two stage sampling in rural areas.

2) First stage – Stratification: There is explicit stratification. The stratification variables are district and type of residence: urban / rural.

3) First stage - Method used to select the sample (for the sampling units): Simple random sampling. Systematic sampling with probabilities proportional-to-size with stratification effect.

4) First stage – Unit: The communities/complexes of each district are the Primary Sampling Units in rural areas. In urban areas, the households are the Primary Sampling Units.

5) Self-representing primary sampling unit: Some communities are large and therefore their probability of selection is equal to 1.

6) Second stage – Unit: Households in rural areas

7) Ultimate stage - Unit: Household

Individuals interviewed in the household:  ALL individuals in the household are interviewed 

Longitudinal component: No Longitudinal Component

Annual

1) Methods used to gather data:

Face to face interviews and telephone interviews (only in exceptional cases) . 99.8% of the survey was conducted with the use of CAPI and 0.2% with the use of CATI.

2) Short description of the survey method: Face-to face interview.

A letter notification was sent by mail to the household just before the beginning of the data collection period. The household was informed that an enumerator would visit them in order to complete the questionnaire. In case of a member’s absence, the interviewer would revisit the household or contact the household member by telephone.

Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI).

The electronic questionnaire was developed with BLAISE

3) Variables completed from an external source: No variables were completed from an external source.

Data have been validated according to Eurostat's standards and rules.

Year to year checks were also carried out before data transmission.

Overview of the data compilation process:

No imputation was used.  Therefore the imputation rate is 0% and there was no impact of imputation.

More details on the calculation of design weights, adjustment of weights for non-response and calibration can be found in Section 18.5.3.

For the target indicator "Individuals having ordered goods or services for private use over the internet in the last 12 months" (individuals who ticked 'Within the last 3 months' or 'Between 3 months and a year ago' in the question “When did you last buy or order goods or services for private use over the internet?”:

Imputation rate (% of observations): 0%

Imputation rate (share of estimate): 0%

Methods used to impute item non-response: None

Grossing up procedures have been applied to: Households

Description of the weighting procedures:

The initial weights (grossing-up factors) are defined as the inverse of the probability of selection in each stratum, adjusted in order to take into account unit non-response.

Factor HH_ij= N_ij /(n_ij*r_ij)

where, i=1,3,4,5,6 (district) and j=1,2 (urban or rural)

N_ij = Total number of households in stratum ij in the population

n_ij = Total number of households in stratum ij in the sample

r_ij = Response rate in stratum ij

The adjusted weights are calibrated using the tool calif so that the population by age (five-year age groups) and sex and the total number of households are consistent with the demographic estimates.

Grossing-up procedures for individuals: All the individuals in a household have the same weight which is equal to the household weight.

Not relevant

Not relevant

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