Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO)

HCSO Multi-domain Statistics Department

Hungarian Central Statistical Office

(Központi Statisztikai Hivatal)

Keleti Károly utca 5-7.

H-10240

Budapest

Hungary

The EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals is an annual survey conducted since 2002. In Hungary, it has been conducted since 2005.

In 2022, the survey collects data on the access to information and communication technologies (ICT), on the use of the internet, e-government, e-commerce, internet of things, as well as green ICT.

National language:Felmérés a háztartások és az egyének információs és kommunikációs technológiai (IKT) eszköz használatáról, 2022

English: Survey on the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Households and by Individuals 2022

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

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:

The above nomenclatures were used in the national questionnaire. No other nomenclatures were used.

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.

There are no differences in scope at national level.

The survey is collecting data of internet users, individuals who have used the internet in the three months prior to the survey. Regular internet users are individuals who used the internet, on average, at least once a week 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 e-government and e-commerce) 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 Methodological Manual for the respective year on CIRCABC - Methodological Manual - Information society statistics (europa.eu).

Deviations from standard ICT concepts: There are no deviations from the ICT concepts and definitions.

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:  3 665 401
• Number of individuals:   7 232 229

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

The whole territory of Hungary is covered.

Year 2022

Not applicable

Percentages of ‘Households’ and Percentages of ‘Individuals’

Module A, B, D, F, G: First quarter of 2022.

Modules C: in last months before 1 April 2022; between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022

Modules E: have ever used

The survey period was from 7 April to 16 June 2022. The duration of the admission was extended by 10 days - from 17 June to 26 June 2022 - in Budapest and in the cities with county status in order to meet the territorial proportions.

The legal basis for the 2022 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) 2021/1223 of 27 July 2021 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 2022 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 2269, 27.07.2021, pp. 1-45).

Complementary national legislation constituting the legal basis for the survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals:  Art No. CLV of 2016 on Official Statistics.

Not applicable.

1)     Official statistical activity is regulated by Act CLV of 2016 on Official Statistics entered into force on 1 January 2017 and by Government Decree 184/2017. (VII. 5.) issued for the implementation of this law.

2)     Law CXII of 2011 on the right to self-determination as regards information and freedom of information.

Confidentiality policy of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (highlighting some principles):

-          confidential data management

-          protection of personal data

-          publicity of statistical data

-          prohibition of disclosure of individual-level information

-          regulated data protection

In addition to the general data protection information, the household ICT survey has its own data management information: The first name of the person selected to answer is recorded, the full name will not be recorded.

The target date is January of the survey followed year.

The results of the survey on ICT usage in households and by individuals for the year 2022 will be available on the HCSO website (www.ksh.hu) under the STADAT-tables by the end of December 2022 and under HCSO's Dissemination database by the end of January 2023.

Tables (STADAT) in 2022: https://www.ksh.hu/katalogus/#/stadat/naptar/en

Dissemination database: https://statinfo.ksh.hu/Statinfo/haDetails.jsp?query=kshquery&lang=en

Publication: https://www.ksh.hu/katalogus/#/kiadvanyok/tema/informacio-kommunikacio!kategoria=atfogo-elemzes

Data for 2022 will be published in a separate analyzing publication in the first half of 2023.

The results will be available furthermore in the Statistical Pocket Book in May 2023, in the Statistical Year Book in September 2023 and in the Regional Statistical Year Book of Hungary in second half of 2023.

In line with the Community legal framework and the Eurostat Statistics Code of Practice HCSO disseminates ICT data on HCSO's website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Hungarian protocol on impartial access to national data for users.

https://www.ksh.hu/docs/bemutatkozas/eng/tajpol_web_eng.pdf?lang=en

Annual

Online news releases to specific occasions (eg. Internet day): https://www.ksh.hu/infografika/2020/internet_napja_2020.pdf

Data visualisations: https://www.ksh.hu/infografika/2021/internethasznalat_2021.pdf

A detailed publication based on the results of the 2022 survey is expected to be available in the first half of 2023.

Detailed, analytical publications published annually (Digital society) are available on HCSO's website, which are accessible through the following links:

Helyzetkép, 2021 - Digitális társadalom  https://www.ksh.hu/apps/shop.kiadvany?p_kiadvany_id=1075775&p_temakor_kod=KSH&p_lang=HU

The results will be available furthermore in the Statistical Pocket Book in May 2023, in the Statistical Year Book in September 2023 and in the Regional Statistical Year Book of Hungary in second half of 2023.

Magyar Statisztikai Zsebkönyv, 2021; in English: Statistical Pocketbook of Hungary, 2021   Publication Repertory - Hungarian Central Statistical Office (ksh.hu)                

Magyar Statisztikai Évkönyv, 2021; in English:  Statistical Yearbook of Hungary, 2021 Publication Repertory - Hungarian Central Statistical Office (ksh.hu)

The aggregated results presented on HCSO's website grouped thematically and organized in static (ready-made) tables, which are accessible through the following link:

The comprehensive collection of completed tables (STADAT): “Information, communication”

https://www.ksh.hu/stadat_files/ikt/en/ikt0016.html

https://www.ksh.hu/stadat_files/ikt/en/ikt0017.html

https://www.ksh.hu/stadat_files/ikt/en/ikt0018.html

https://www.ksh.hu/stadat_files/ikt/en/ikt0019.html

https://www.ksh.hu/stadat_files/ikt/en/ikt0020.html

Dissemination database: https://statinfo.ksh.hu/Statinfo/haDetails.jsp?query=kshquery&lang=en

Not obtainable.

Secure access to microdata files for researchers from 2008 onwards is currently being planned (in the Safe Centre Access in HCSO).

Not requested.

Not obtainable.

The “Metainformation/Statistical domain” (Concepts and definitions, Classifications, Data sources, Data collections) for ICT usage statistics are available on HCSO's website, which is accessible through the following link:

https://www.ksh.hu/apps/meta.objektum?p_lang=EN&p_menu_id=110&p_ot_id=100&p_obj_id=CCBE

100%

The QUALITY GUIDELINES for the statistical processes of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office is available on HCSO's website, which is accessible through the following link: https://www.ksh.hu/docs/bemutatkozas/eng/minosegi_iranyelvek_eng.pdf;

The Quality policy of HCSO is available on HCSO'S website, which is accessible through the following link: https://www.ksh.hu/docs/bemutatkozas/eng/minpol_web_eng.pdf

In general HCSO also has to make Quality Reports for all statistical domains and make effort to improve quality of data collections and data itself.

The main principles for HCSO's quality policy is available on the website: https://www.ksh.hu/guidelines_policies_strategy

The national survey’s questionnaire is based on the Model Questionnaire (MQ) unified by Eurostat. By applying this questionnaire, the HCSO ensures the possibility of the comparison of the results of the survey on European level. The guidelines of the Methodological manual of Eurostat (Methodological manual Part II. Household survey) are also used for compiling the content of the Hungarian questionnaire and the detailed guide. In addition, during the planning of the Hungarian survey and the different stages of the implementation process, the “Quality Guidelines for the Statistical Process of the HCSO” compiled by HCSO are applied in order to ensure compliance with the requirements defined by Eurostat. 

(https://www.ksh.hu/docs/bemutatkozas/eng/minosegi_iranyelvek_eng.pdf; https://www.ksh.hu/docs/bemutatkozas/eng/estfm_eng.pdf)

1) From 2015 face-to-face interview was implemented (supported by laptops) during which the interviewers record the data of the questionnaire on the location. The recording software verifies the data input and indicates warnings about the incidental errors.

2) From 2015 it is a personal interview aided by laptop/tablet (CAPI), carried out by the interviewer. Between 2015 and 2019 face-to-face interviews tablet aided (CAPI). From 2020 the HCSO was applied a combination of techniques: web based survey (CAWI), face-to-face interviews (CAPI) and telephone interviews (CATI).

3) The method of filling in the questionnaire can be chosen by the data provider.

In the survey on ICT usage in households and by individuals 2020 quite a new sample design is introduced. The new frame is the population registry.

The main user of data on ICT usage is EUROSTAT. Other data users are the OECD, the ITU, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, several other national government establishments, other decision-makers, under- and postgraduate students, members of the educational and academic sphere, researchers, and the media. Data are published in the EUROSTAT database and are updated yearly.

At European level, the European Commission’s entities (e.g. DG CNECT, DG REGIO, etc.) are the principal users of the data on ICT usage by households and by individuals. Therefore, the main users are consulted regularly (at task forces and ad hoc meetings) on their needs and are involved in the process of the development of the Model Questionnaire from a very early stage.

Users’ needs are considered throughout the whole development process of the Model Questionnaire aiming to provide relevant statistical data for monitoring and benchmarking of European policies.

National Statistics Code of Practice: 3. User orientation  https://www.ksh.hu/docs/bemutatkozas/eng/national_statistics_code_of_practice.pdf

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

100%

The sample design and weighting scheme perform well in general, the net effective sample size is larger by far than required. Non-response rate may indicate some risk of bias which was intended to get reduced by weigh adjustment.

Jackknife method was applied taking stratification, clustered nature of sample, systematic selection of individuals, rotation, weighting and calibration effects into account. SAS program was used.

Reference: Wolter, Kirk M.: Introduction to Variance Estimation, Springer, 2007

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 question D1 of the 2022 model questionnaire):

Number of respondents (absolute value for ‘Yes’ answers):   4 242

Estimated proportion (in %):  70.32%

Standard error (in percentage points):  0.52

Details of the breakdowns are available in the Annexes below. 

See more details on non-sampling error below.

Over-coverage is ~4% (moved abroad, institution, dead), the under-coverage is ~0.6% (individuals with no registered address).

4%

Not requested in the ICT survey.

1)       Measurement errors:  

In some cases it was revealed during the data processing that the person who responded to the questions during the survey was not the individual who had been selected from the sample. Of course, these persons provided their own names when they responded to the questions. These types of errors were detected during the verification of the received data. These personal questionnaires were archived and were not taken into account during the data processing.

2)       Questionnaire design and testing: 

The questionnaire of the survey will be created in the MAJA IT system. Information windows will be inserted into the questionnaire with explanations for all modules and all questions to assist the designated person in completing the form. The logic-checks will be included in the web-based questionnaires to be completed by data providers and they will also be available on the devices used by interviewers. Based on the results of the built-in logic checks, the respondent or the interviewer shall correct the errors before submitting the questionnaire. 

3)       Interviewer training:  

The HCSO prepares a detailed guide for the interviewers and makes available another educational material (in .ppt format) to the interviewers. This latter material describes the different tasks to be performed in connection with the survey and it provides the professional knowledge related to the content of the questionnaire. Before the interviewers could start their activity, they are going to receive an online educational material prepared for this purpose and the HCSO will also provide additional consultation opportunities. After the training period, the interviewers shall answer test questions to provide feedback on their knowledge gained by going through the educational material.      

4)       Proxy interview rates:  No proxy interviews are used.

Information about non-respondents: 

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). 

The overall unit non-response rate is 0.47. Non-respondents can be characterised by area, dwelling unit and individual level data available from sampling frame. The remarkable characteristics are below.

Capital Budapest (region HU11) is subject to non-response the most (58%). The other central region (HU12) is also above the average by far with non-response rate 51%. Other regions are below the average, especially on the East. Besides, it can be stated that the more developed or more urbanized the area is, the higher the non-response rate is. As for individual level, males (48%) and the younger (over 50%) are harder to reach. Within panel subsample, the movers are definitely harder to follow.

Non-response rate may indicate some risk of bias which was intended to get reduced by weigh adjustment involving variables related to non-response mentioned above (see 13.3.3.1.2).

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).

Unit non-response rate for

• Households:   
  
• Individuals (aged 16-74):  0.47

Comments, if any: cases with unknown eligibility were counted as eligible

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

Unit non-response was handled with weighting. Response propensity was estimated by logistic regression with covariates correlated with both response and the main objective variable: gender and age as individual level variables; household size as dwelling unit level variable; type of locality, degree of urbanisation, size of locality, average taxable income per capita, population % of employed, of unemployed and of with tertiary educational attainment level as PSU level variables. To compensate unit non-response in the panel subsample (that is panel attrition) target variable of ICT usage from previous year was also involved.

2)       Methods used for minimizing unit non-response:  

- An individualized hello-letter was sent to the persons chosen from the sample. 

- In the first phase of the data-recording period gift vouchers were sent to some respondents raffled from those persons who completed the questionnaire via Internet within the frame of the online self-completion process. 

- On the 14th day after the recording started, the HCSO sent a reminder via e-mail or by post to those who had not yet completed the questionnaire.

- In the second and third phases of the recording, the interviewers contacted via telephone or personally those persons who had not completed the questionnaire in the first phase via Internet. In the second phase of the data collection, gift vouchers were offered to those who responded to the interviewers. 

3)       Substitution permitted:  No 

4)       Substitution rate (in %):  0%, no proxy interviews or substitution was allowed 

Items with low response rates (observed rates in %):  It is not relevant.

It is not relevant.

Not requested for ICT Survey

The first data transmission was in time. The data of the 2022 survey the HCSO will be published earlier than planned, in December 2022. 

1 day before the target date.

There is 1 day before the target date. The first publication of data is 2,5 month data delivery.

Data derived from the data collection are comparable on international level, as the questionnaire and the data collection methodology had been elaborated in cooperation with the EUROSTAT and with member countries. Regional data (NUTS 2) accurately represent the regional characteristics of ICT usage also.

Not relevant

Possible limitations in the use of data for comparisons over time: 

Data collection started in 2005. It has a regulatory background since the data collection year 2006, thus the survey is collected based on a unified methodology. Main indicators have time series from 2005 (indicators coming from the permanent modules). There are permanent modules (internet use, use of e-government, use of e-commerce) and there are ad hoc modules (eg. digital skills) that are not included in the questionnaire every year. The data collected and processed according to the unified methodology can be compared to the results of the previous years until the survey completed in 2019. Due to above methodological changes data of the 2020 survey have a limited comparability with the previous years' data.

However the data collected in 2022 is comparable with data collected in 2021 except for the following.   

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 2022:

The table in the file 'SIMS_2022_annexes_HU' in the Annexes lists the questions that do not reflect the coverage of subjects and characteristics of Annex 2 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1898 of the 20 July 2021. 

Adoption of OPTIONAL questions and items in the Eurostat model questionnaire 2022:

The table in the file 'SIMS_2022_annexes_HU' in the Annexes lists the optional questions from the annual Eurostat model questionnaire 2022 included in the national questionnaire and their coverage for age groups beyond the standard scope. 

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

All statistics are coherent within the dataset. 

Revision policy/practice: Validated data are transmitted and published.

1. Scheduled revision

1.1 Routine revision: there is no routine (regular) revision

1.2 Major revision: between 2006 and 2014 none occurred, one took place in 2015.

HCSO used the population number formed and updated on the basis of the 2001 census as key figure for the population surveys, among them for grossing up the voluntary data collection OSAP 2003 Survey on the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in households and individuals. However the key figures formed from the 2011 census by 1 October 2011, used for population surveys differed from the updated population number, making the reweighting, revision of the population censuses. The revision included all regular population related data collections for the publication period from October 2011. A new key figure system has been completed for the 2006 - 2011 period considering the 2011 census and showing a corrected population number; with the help of this tool the population sampling had to be reweighted for this timeframe. Based on the major revision of the HCSO population data collection, data published in 2015 had been grossed up and re-processed based on the new key figures as per the 2011 census.

2. Non scheduled revisions: Data revisions not announced in advance occur only in exceptional cases namely if any unforeseeable event (data error, technical problem, etc.) makes the revision of data necessary. Last year there was no non-scheduled revision in this statistical domain.

The Data revision policy of HCSO is available on the HCSO's website, which is accessible through the following link: https://www.ksh.hu/docs/bemutatkozas/eng/ksh_revizios_politikaja_2018_eng.pdf

Not relevant

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

Survey participation: voluntary.  The survey is stand-alone.

Registry of settlements at the 1^st stage. Population registry restricted to individuals aged 16-74 at the 2^nd stage. There is a shortcoming: the percentage of invalid addresses, movers and other frame errors may be over 10%. This can be handled with effective field work (follow-up) and the possibility of CAWI.

In 2020 a brand new design was introduced. ICT sample is a stratified two-stage probability sample of individuals. 

Number of individuals interviewed in the household: One (basically) Given a sample of individuals it is rare to have more than one selected individuals in the same household.

PSUs are localities. In the population of smaller towns or villages settlements are stratified by NUTS2 regions, size, average taxable income per capita and population with tertiary educational level. In the population of larger towns each town is a stratum of its own. They are self-representing towns. PSUs are selected with pps method.

Individuals are selected within PSUs with systematic random selection method from a list sorted by date of birth.

ICT sample has a ¼ rotational pattern. 

Longitudinal component: In the sample in 2022 3400 new individuals were selected in the new rotational group.  

Annual

1) Methods used to gather data:the recording period was divided into 3 parts as follows:

• a) Only CAWI  
• b) Combination of techniques: CAWI, CAPI, CATI
• c) Only CAPI and CATI

2) Short description of the survey method:

From 2015 it is a personal interview aided by laptop/tablet (CAPI), carried out by the interviewer. Between 2015 and 2019 face-to-face interviews laptop/tablet aided (CAPI). From 2020 web based survey (CAWI), face-to-face interviews (CAPI) and telephone interviews (CATI).

In 2022: CAWI: 26.2% 

              CAPI: 32.4%

              CATI: 41.4%

             Total:100.0%

 3) Variables completed from an external source:

• The date of birth of the person
• Address (Name of settlement, and the districts of Budapest, name of street, street-number)

Hungary validates the data according to the standards provided by Eurostat. At electronic data collections the questionnaire’s basic connections are built in the data collection instrument, the data provider has to correct errors prior to sending in the questionnaire. In the framework of the sub-process takes place the coding and registration of reasons for missing questionnaires or data receptions. For eliminating errors in microdata, there are validation rules built in the data entry and processing system. The result of the survey is logically analysed by age, regions and other indicators by experts of HCSO. Statistical analysis is carried out based on the general and specific indicators.

Unit non-response is handled with weighting and calibration. For the treatment of unit non-response were had broader possibilities with new frame with gender, age and household composition being available for weight adjustment. Besides, other area level auxiliary variables were used just as before. Calibration was made with iterative raking.

In case of the household's net monthly income the data of a randomly chosen household having the same socio-demographic characteristics will be imputed.

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 question D1 of the 2022 model questionnaire): It is not relevant.

In case of the household’s net monthly income the data of a randomly chosen household having the same socio-demographic characteristics was imputed.

Imputation rate (% of observations): 16.667%

Imputation rate (share of estimate):  17.263%

Methods used to impute item non-response:

Deterministic imputation: Donor

Grossing up procedures have been applied to: Individuals and Households

       Description of the weighting procedures:

Households:

Generalised weight share method applied to the final individual weight provided the input weight for household level calibration. Iterative raking method was used with the following controls at NUTS2 level:

• population by gender and age (16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30,34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74);
• 16-74 population by degree of urbanisation;
• 16-74 population in household of size 1 (estimated from LFS);
• number of households in scope (estimated from LFS).

Final household weights were bounded with the interval (180, 2700)

Individuals:

Design weights were given by sample design.

First adjustment was the weighting for non-response (see 13.3.3.1.2.).

The adjusted weights were then calibrated to population counts with iterative raking. The following constraints were used at NUTS2 level:

• population by gender and age (16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30,34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74);
• 16-74 population by degree of urbanisation;
• 16-74 population in household of size 1 (estimated from LFS).

Final individual weights were bounded with the interval (330, 3300).

Not relevant

Not relevant