ICT usage in households and by individuals (isoc_i)

1.1. Contact organisation

[CH1] Office Federal de la Statistique (Swiss Federal Statistical Office)

1.2. Contact organisation unit

Section WSA (Economic structure and analysis), Division WI (Economy)

1.3. Contact name

Confidential because of GDPR

1.4. Contact person function

Confidential because of GDPR

1.5. Contact mail address

Office fédéral de la Statistique (OFS)
Espace de l'Europe 10
CH - 2010 Neuchâtel
SWITZERLAND

1.6. Contact email address

Confidential because of GDPR

1.7. Contact phone number

Confidential because of GDPR

1.8. Contact fax number

Confidential because of GDPR

2.1. Metadata last certified

19 December 2025

2.2. Metadata last posted

19 December 2025

2.3. Metadata last update

13 February 2026

3.1. Data description

The EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals is an annual survey conducted since 2002 in EU countries. In Switzerland, it has been conducted in 2010 and 2014 and every two years since 2017. 

In 2025, the survey collects data on the access to information and communication technologies (ICT), on the use of the internet, generative AI applications and e-commerce as well as e-skills and privacy and protection of personal data. In Switzerland, no data on eID has been collected and only few data on e-government.

3.1.1. Survey name in national and English languages

National languages:

• German: Omnibus 2025: Erhebung zur Internetnutzung (OMN2025)
• French: Omnibus 2025: enquête sur l’utilisation d’Internet (OMN2025)
• Italian: Omnibus 2025: indagine sull’utilizzo di Internet (OMN2025)
• NO ENGLISH translation available

English: EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals

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

Annexes:
questionnaire et codebook en français
questionnaire et codebook en allemand
questionaire et codebook en italien

3.2. Classification system

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 not provided.

Additional classifications used in the national questionnaire: no additional classification

3.3. Coverage - sector

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. Individuals aged 75 to 89 are covered by some countries on voluntary basis. 

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.

3.3.1. Differences in scope at national level

Individuals aged 15 to 88 and Households with at least one member aged 15 to 88

3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

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 (biennial in Switzerland) 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, e-commerce, e-skills, desinformation, hate speech 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 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:  

• The egovernment question has been kept identical as in the 2021 and 2023 survey. Moreover, the definition of e-governement is more restrictive for Switzerland, taking into account only the public administrations and not the public services like schools or health services.
• The reference period for financial activities, as in the previous surveys, has been kept at 12 months.

3.5. Statistical unit

Households and Individuals

3.6. Statistical population

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

• individuals: all individuals aged 16 to 74; optionally 75-to 89.
• households: all (private) households with at least one member aged 16 to 74; optionally with at least one member aged 75 to 89, but no member aged 16 to 74. 

Target population composed of households and/or individuals:

• Number of households with at least one member aged 16-74: 3'541'467
• Number of individuals aged 16-74:  6'512'912
• Number of households with at least one member aged 75 to 89, but no member aged 16 to 74:415'736
• Number of individuals aged 75-89: 721'742

Comment: target population In Switzerland : 15-88 years, 3'957'214 households and 7'322'546 individuals

3.6.1. Non-compulsory age groups

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

	No	Yes	Age scope
Individuals younger than 16?		x	15
Individuals aged 75-89?		x	75-88
Individuals older than 89?	x

3.6.2. Population not covered by the data collection

Non-target population (the difference between the total population and the target population)	Households	Individuals
Approximate number of units outside the mandatory scope of the survey (for example individuals younger than 16 or older than 74; households with all members over 74 years old).	718'889	2'535'993
Approximate number of units outside the age scope 16 to 89, if the optional age scope 75 to 89 is included.	Not included	Not included
Estimate of the resulting percentage of under-coverage (non-covered population compared to the total country), if applicable	17%	28%

3.7. Reference area

Switzerland (NUTS1) and its 7 big regions (NUTS2)

3.8. Coverage - Time

Year 2025

3.9. Base period

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 statement:  question E11 on financial activities (buying insurances policies, taking a loan, buying/selling shares) refers to the last 12 months before the interview.

5.1. Survey period

From the 27th of March to the 6th of July 2025

6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

The legal basis for the 2025 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 October 2019, p. 1), as implemented by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2182 of 2 September 2024 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 2025 in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L - 2024/2182, 3 September 2024) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2515 of 9 July 2024 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 2025 (OJ L, 2024/2515, 26 September 2024).

As this legal basis is not included in the annex A of the 2007 bilateral agreement's on Statistics between SWIZERLAND and EU, Switzerland is not subject to this regulation. However, Switzerland carries out the survey every two years, until now, and transmits the microdata to Eurostat on the basis of a gentleman's agreement.

Complementary national legislation constituting the legal basis for the survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals:  

Federal law of the 22 June 2007 on the Federal Population Census (RS 431.112)

Ordinance of 19 December 2008 on the Federal Population Census (RS 431.112.1)

Ordinance of 30 June 1993 on the execution of federal statistical surveys (RS 431.012.1)

6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

Not applicable

7.1. Confidentiality - policy

Federal Ordinance on the execution of federal statistical surveys (RS 431.012.1)

Federal law of 19 juin 1992 on data protection (LPD) and Federal Ordinance of 14 juin 1993 (OLPD)

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

Confidentiality of data is guaranteed throughout the survey and data processing process. The microdata are anonymised as early as the raw data control phase. The correspondence list between ID number and name is not known by the person who analyses and finalises the dataset. Furthermore, results based on fewer than 20 households/individuals are not published.

8.1. Release calendar

The release calendar is publicly accessible one month before. The date for press release and publication of results was 5th of December 2025

8.2. Release calendar access

The release of results is announced in the Federal statistical Office agenda : French - German - Italian - English

8.3. Release policy - user access

Statistical information shall be disseminated in such a way that all users can access it simultaneously. All users have access to statistical publications at the same time and under the same conditions, and any privileged pre-release access granted to an external user is limited, controlled and made public. Some authorities may receive advance information under embargo in order to prepare for possible questions. The policy on consultations and advance information regulates the modalities.
The Internet pages in FR : Charte et Règlement - conseilethique-stat.ch

Biannual

10.1. Dissemination format - News release

Press release 5 December 2025 : in French, German, Italian, English

10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

Indicators on Internet Access and Use in households, available in French or German on the SFO website : In French and in German

10.3. Dissemination format - online database

8 interactive tables - (px cubes) available in French and in German, on :

• Household access
• On-line activities
• E-government
• e-commerce (2 px-cubes)
• Security
• Modality of Internet use and e-skills
• Use of generative AI

In French : STAT-TAB – tableaux interactifs (OFS) (admin.ch), voir thème 16

In German : STAT-TAB – interaktive Tabellen (BFS) (admin.ch), siehe Thema 16

10.3.1. Data tables - consultations

1293 downloads for interactive data (px-cubes) for the year 2024.

291 downloads for 2023 excel tables on online activities for the year 2024

10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

Anonymous micro-data can be supplied for research purposes as long as a data protection and confidentiality contract has been signed by the researcher and the research institution. In this case, any precise geographical location smaller then NUTS2 is deleted from the microdata transmitted.

10.5. Dissemination format - other

Excel tables about on-line activities, see "tables", available in French and in German

10.5.1. Metadata - consultations

483 downloads of 2023 survey’s codebooks (DE, FR, IT) for the year 2024.

10.6. Documentation on methodology

Survey's Factsheet and Questionnaire & codebook :  French, German,  Italian.

10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate

100%

10.7. Quality management - documentation

See below

11.1. Quality assurance

Quality is insured by the FSO methodological services (ongoing process) and general processes of FSO

11.2. Quality management - assessment

Quality of the statistical output is good :

• relevance : data for international comparison and domestic evolution on digitalisation
• accuracy : satisfactory response rate (see below) and confidence intervals
• timeliness : data are published 6 months after the end of the survey's fieldwork
• comparability : EU model questionnaire allows for international comparisons and time series, nevertheless the biannual periodicity of the survey doesn't permit to take into account all the variables of European model questionnaire

12.1. Relevance - User Needs

1. Swiss Government : The Federal Council wants Switzerland to make the most of the opportunities offered by digitalisation. The Digital Switzerland Strategy sets the guidelines for Switzerland’s digital transformation. It is binding for the Federal Administration. For other stakeholders such as the cantons, communes, business, science and civil society, it serves as an orientation with the aim of making the best possible use of the opportunities of digital transformation for everyone. Such an objective requires regular statistical monitoring to measure the evolution and evaluate the impact of the actions taken.
2. International Institutions: EUROSTAT (database); ITU - international telecommunication Union; OCDE (international databases and publications)
3. Swiss cantons & Cities: Various cantons and cities uses our data for publishing indicators of digitalisation at regional level
4. Researchers & students: Higher education institutions
5. Media in general, public opinion formation

12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

Not formally assessed

12.3. Completeness

Variables not included in the survey :

• Module B: Finding information about the safety of products, question B4g1 : IUIFSP
• Module C: Use of e-government, questions C1 to C7 : IGOVIP, IGOVIDB, IGOVIX, IGOVAPR, IGOVTAX2, IGOVODC, IGOVBE, IGOVRCC, IRGOVNN, IRGOVLS, IRGOVSEC, IRGOVOP, IRGOVOTH
• Module D: Use of eID, questions D1 to D3 : IEID, IEIDOC, IEIDEC, IEIDBS, IREIDNA, IREIDNO, IREIDNN, IREIDSEC, IREIDTEC, IREIDDEV, IREIDOTH
• Module E: e-commerce, question E10, any other services, BPSH
• Module G: problems with deleting an account, question G5 to G7: IUACRG, IUACDL, IUACDLP
• Question H15. GEO_DEV (geographical location, not relevant for Switzerland)
• Question H19. HH_IQ5 (Monthly household income)
• Question H20. TIME (Interview duration, not relevant for Switzerland as the questionnaire differs)

12.3.1. Data completeness - rate

84% of mandatory variables 

13.1. Accuracy - overall

No systematic bias should exist. The accuracy can be considered sufficient, if not satisfactory, given the means available.

13.2. Sampling error

The sampling error reflects the fact that only a sample was surveyed rather than the entire population. It is estimated by the standard error and can be expressed by the square root of the estimate of the sampling variance. The estimation of the sampling variance takes into account the sampling design (e.g. the stratification).

More information on methodology for calculating precision estimates is detailed in the paragraphs below.

13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators

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):  2344

Estimated proportion (in %):  85.50

Standard error (in percentage points):  1.288 

Details of the breakdowns are available in the document  " INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_CH_2025_0000_1 " in the Annexes below. 

13.3. Non-sampling error

See more details on non-sampling error below.

13.3.1. Coverage error

Since 2010 the FSO has a sample frame which forms the basis for high-quality person and household surveys. The sample frame uses data from cantonal and communal population registers, which are updated on a quarterly basis.

The sample frame refers to the permanent resident population as of 31 December 2024, living in a private household, excluding diplomats and persons under guardianship, persons with a registered address outside Switzerland, as well as persons in the asylum process or with a short-term residence permit.

There is a time laps of 1-2 months' time between last update of the frame and actual sampling and about a 3-4 months’ time between actual sampling and beginning of the survey.

13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate

0,01%

13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion

Not requested in the ICT survey.

13.3.2. Measurement error

1. Measurement errors:  There were 1.3% of unknown person or invalid postal address; 10.6 % of incomplete questionnaires rejected
2. Questionnaire design and testing:  A pilot survey of 500 people has been conducted in November/December 2024 to test the questionnaire and the working process with the contractor. In particular, the filters and variables were checked as well as response rates and the accuracy of the translations from French in German (Swiss German for CATI interviews) and Italian.
3. Interviewer training: For the CATI interviews, interviewers received a two-hour training session at the beginning of the survey and a refreshment at the beginning of the telephone calls. The training covers the context of the survey, the method, the topic in general and the questionnaire in detail (filters, definitions, etc.). Presentation of the questionnaire is followed by practical exercises. Interviewers are provided with documentation on the definitions, a rationale and a FAQ sheet.
4. Proxy interview rates:  0 % : proxy interviews are not admitted. For CAWI and CATI interviews, a control of the person responding is made at the beginning of the questionnaire.

13.3.3. Non response error

Information about non-respondents: The main difficulty is to get people without Internet access to participate, and to get people who don't know they use the Internet to answer questions about Internet use. The non-respondents are known by their characteristics available in the sample frame register.

13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate

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 with at least one member aged 16 to 74 : 45.9%
• Households with at least one member aged 75 to 89, but no member aged 16 to 74: 41.6%
• Individuals (aged 16-74): 45.9%
• Individuals (aged 75-89):  41.6%

 

13.3.3.1.1. Unit non-response – sample sizes

	Number of households with at least one member aged 16-74	Number of households with at least one member aged 75-89, but no member aged 16-74	Number of individuals aged 16-74	Number of individuals aged 75-89	Number of individuals (< 16)	Number of individuals (> 89)
Gross sample [A] The number of households/individuals initially selected from the sampling frame (if not applicable, indicate why below the table)	5135	580	5135	580	64	0
Ineligible: out-of-scope [B]  For example, when a selected household is not in the target population because all members are over 75 years old or when no dwelling exists at the selected address, or a selected individual has died between the reference data of the sampling frame at the moment of the interview.	16	1	16	1	0
Number of eligible elements [C] Gross sample size corrected of the ineligible cases	5119	579	5119	579	64
Net sample size or final sample [D] The net sample size (or final sample) corresponds to the number of households/individuals that can be used in the final database.	2767	339	2767	338	43
Unit response rate [E] = [D] / [C] The unit response rate is the ratio of the number of in-scope respondents (= the number of achieved interviews or the net sample size) to the number of eligible elements selected from the sampling frame.	0.541	0.584	0.541	0.584	0.625

 

Comments, if any: Unit response rate for all households and individuals 15-88 years old : 0.546

13.3.3.1.2. Unit non-response – methods, minimization and substitution

• Methods used for dealing with unit non-response:  
  • weight adjustments for nonresponse
  • calibration
• Methods used for minimizing unit non-response: 
  • Official letter announcing the survey, explaining its objective and giving confidentiality guarantees. It explains in particular why it is important for everyone to participate, even without Internet access at home. This letter gives the website address and access code to the online survey, and a QR code with direct access to the questionnaire.
  • Leporello describing the survey and its objectives, with some examples of results from previous surveys.
  • Internet pages with FAQ concerning the survey and the confidentiality measures.
  • A first reminder letter, about 2 weeks after the beginning of the survey, asking to answer the CAWI or to call to make the CATI interview.
  • A second reminder letter 10 days later, informing people they would be called if they don't answer the CAWI.
  • CATI interviews, with pitch prepared for the interviewers to get people participate.
  • Telephone appointments when the selected individual is not at home at the moment of the call (no proxy).
• Substitution permitted: no
• Substitution rate (in %):  0% as no proxy interview is permitted

13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate

Items with low response rates (observed rates in %):  NO item with response rate under 98%

13.3.4. Processing error

No processing error stated

13.3.5. Model assumption error

Not applicable

14.1. Timeliness

Date of data dissemination at national level: 5 December 2025

14.1.1. Time lag - first result

Restricted from publication

14.1.2. Time lag - final result

Restricted from publication

14.2. Punctuality

8 days

14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication

8 days

100% of variables surveyed in the Swiss questionnaire 

15.1. Comparability - geographical

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

15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

Not relevant

15.2. Comparability - over time

Possible limitations in the use of data for comparisons over time: there have been no changes in methodology

15.2.1. Length of comparable time series

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

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

Not applicable

15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

Not applicable

15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts

Not applicable

15.4. Coherence - internal

All statistics are coherent within the dataset provided by the country.

15.4.1. Survey questionnaire – mandatory questions

MANDATORY questions in the Eurostat model questionnaire 2025:

Table 15.4.1. of document " INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_CH_2025_0000_1 " in the Annexes lists the questions for which the coverage of subjects and characteristics reflected in the national questionnaire differs from Annex 2 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2515 of 9 July 2024. 

15.4.2. Survey questionnaire – optional questions

Adoption of OPTIONAL questions and items in the Eurostat model questionnaire 2025:

Table 15.4.2. of document " INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_CH_2025_0000_1 " in the Annexes lists the optional questions from the annual Eurostat model questionnaire 2025 included in the national questionnaire and their coverage for age groups beyond the standard scope. 

15.4.3. Survey questionnaire – additional questions at national level

Additional questions introduced in the national questionnaire in 2025: questions on smartphone use, reasons for not buying online, use of security softwares, security problems encountered

Table 15.4.3. of document " INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_CH_2025_0000_1 " in the Annexes lists the additional questions.

15.4.4. Survey questionnaire – deviations

Effects of deviations from the routing used in the Eurostat model questionnaire:  

Module E  : Filter question “YES/NO” before E.9 - Problems encountered when buying on line - reduces the burden, that is the time to fill in the online survey or to pass the CATI, but could lead to an underestimation of problems when buying online.

Restricted from publication

17.1. Data revision - policy

No data revision policy

17.2. Data revision - practice

No revision of data is planned

17.2.1. Data revision - average size

Not relevant

18.1. Source data

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

18.1.1. Sampling frame

SRPH (Stichprobenrahmen für Personen- und Haushaltserhebungen) = sampling frame obtained by aggregating administrative registers of persons and households (municipalities and cantons’ population registers, federal registers of immigrants, federal registers of asylum applicant and federal civil registers).

18.1.2. Sampling design

Stratified by NUTS2 with Poisson sampling. 
One individual is selected with uniform probability within each selected household. Within a NUTS 2 region, this is a self-weighted design where PSU’s have probability proportional to size and one SSU is selected within each selected PSU, so that all target individuals of a NUTS 2 region have the same inclusion probability.

18.1.3. Net effective sample size

Restricted from publication

18.2. Frequency of data collection

Biannual

18.3. Data collection

1. Methods used to gather data: CAWI , CATI 
2. Short description of the survey method: Mixed-Mode CAWI / CATI; realised in 2025: 92.5% CAWI – 7.5% CATI. The first personal letter to the selected persons encourages responding online (CAWI) but also gives the possibility to conduct the interview by telephone (CATI). A first reminder letter is sent about 3 weeks after the first letter. A second reminder letter is sent 3 weeks later. Direct calls for passing CATI interview, to persons who have not yet responded online, start only about 3 weeks after the second reminder letter, that is about 9 weeks after the start of the survey.
3. Variables completed from an external source: From the sample frame of SRPH (inhabitants register) are taken the variables : YEARBIR, AGE, SEX, GEO_NUTS1, GEO_NUTS2, DEG_URBA

18.4. Data validation

1) Coverage control : all variables in the data, no unexpected value code, all records with a value

2) Filter control : positive and negative condition for each filter variable

3) Time comparison : consistency of result with the last two surveys of 2023 and 2021

4) Response rate control : item non response not bigger than 4%

5) Plausibilisation: within questionnaire, some responses imply certain value for other variables. 

18.5. Data compilation

1. Reception of data from the contractor: control of raw data (cf. 18.4).
2. Plausibilisation & imputation: The following variables were imputed, resulting in higher proportions (unweighted) of 0.4% to 10.4%. 

• A1.  Internet access (for people using a smartphone, social network or other apps, +3.3% non-weighted)
• B3a. use of Internet with desktop computer (+0,4% non-weighted)
• B3d. use of Internet with mobile phone (+2.2% non-weighted) 
• B4c. social network (+6.7% non-weighted)
• B4l. ebanking (+0,9% non-weighted)
• F1a. copying-moving files (+10.4% non-weighted)

3. Weighting.

18.5.1. Imputation - rate

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%

18.5.2. Use of imputation methods

Methods used to impute item non-response: deductive imputation according to other responses in the interview

18.5.3. Grossing-up procedures

Grossing up procedures have been applied to : Individuals and Households

Description of the weighting procedures:

Individuals :

• weight adjustments for nonresponse
• calibration

Households :

• weight adjustments for non-response
• weight share methods
• calibration

18.6. Adjustment

Not relevant

18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment

Not relevant

INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_2025
INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_2025_Questionnaire_DE
INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_2025_Questionnaire_FR
INFOSOC_HHNSI_A_2025_Questionnaire_IT

The EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals is an annual survey conducted since 2002 in EU countries. In Switzerland, it has been conducted in 2010 and 2014 and every two years since 2017. 

In 2025, the survey collects data on the access to information and communication technologies (ICT), on the use of the internet, generative AI applications and e-commerce as well as e-skills and privacy and protection of personal data. In Switzerland, no data on eID has been collected and only few data on e-government.

13 February 2026

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 (biennial in Switzerland) 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, e-commerce, e-skills, desinformation, hate speech 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 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:  

• The egovernment question has been kept identical as in the 2021 and 2023 survey. Moreover, the definition of e-governement is more restrictive for Switzerland, taking into account only the public administrations and not the public services like schools or health services.
• The reference period for financial activities, as in the previous surveys, has been kept at 12 months.

Households and Individuals

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

• individuals: all individuals aged 16 to 74; optionally 75-to 89.
• households: all (private) households with at least one member aged 16 to 74; optionally with at least one member aged 75 to 89, but no member aged 16 to 74. 

Target population composed of households and/or individuals:

• Number of households with at least one member aged 16-74: 3'541'467
• Number of individuals aged 16-74:  6'512'912
• Number of households with at least one member aged 75 to 89, but no member aged 16 to 74:415'736
• Number of individuals aged 75-89: 721'742

Comment: target population In Switzerland : 15-88 years, 3'957'214 households and 7'322'546 individuals

Switzerland (NUTS1) and its 7 big regions (NUTS2)

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 statement:  question E11 on financial activities (buying insurances policies, taking a loan, buying/selling shares) refers to the last 12 months before the interview.

No systematic bias should exist. The accuracy can be considered sufficient, if not satisfactory, given the means available.

Percentages of ‘Households’ and Percentages of ‘Individuals’

1. Reception of data from the contractor: control of raw data (cf. 18.4).
2. Plausibilisation & imputation: The following variables were imputed, resulting in higher proportions (unweighted) of 0.4% to 10.4%. 

• A1.  Internet access (for people using a smartphone, social network or other apps, +3.3% non-weighted)
• B3a. use of Internet with desktop computer (+0,4% non-weighted)
• B3d. use of Internet with mobile phone (+2.2% non-weighted) 
• B4c. social network (+6.7% non-weighted)
• B4l. ebanking (+0,9% non-weighted)
• F1a. copying-moving files (+10.4% non-weighted)

3. Weighting.

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

Biannual

Date of data dissemination at national level: 5 December 2025

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

Possible limitations in the use of data for comparisons over time: there have been no changes in methodology