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Sweden

Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.

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ICT usage in households and by individuals (isoc_i)

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National Reference Metadata in Single Integrated Metadata Structure (SIMS)

Compiling agency: Statistics Sweden 

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The EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals is an annual survey conducted since 2002. In Sweden, it has been conducted since 2003.

In 2024, the survey collects data on the access to information and communication technologies (ICT), on the use of the internet, e-government and e-commerce, internet of things, as well as green ICT.

12 December 2024

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, e-commerce, internet of things and green ICT) 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.

Deviations from standard ICT concepts:  No deviations from standard ICT concepts are observed.

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: 3 620 730
  • Number of individuals:  7 505 004

All the territory of the country.

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:  No deviations.

This quality component is related to the closeness of computations or estimates to the (unknown) exact or true values. Sampling and non-sampling errors were evaluated to define the sources of uncertainty that are assessed to have greatest significance to the survey. It was considered that sampling error, non-response error, and measurement error have greater impact on data quality. Se more details in the subsections below.

Percentages of ‘Households’ and Percentages of ‘Individuals’

Check of the coherence between the web questionnaire and the paper questionnaire was carried out by controlling the files after the data entry: coding errors (e.g. municipality codes), data entry errors (e.g. a one digit  number instead of a two digit number), data out of possible range or incoherence of data (e.g. the age calculated by the date of birth and the age in years).

Data for some socio-demographic background variables is taken from registers. This is done already in formation of the sample.

Check and deterministic editing of all variables were done in order to correct incoherent values and errors. Validation rules were implemented in SAS programs for all the modules.

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

Annual

Date of data dissemination at national level: 18 October 2024

There is no problem of comparability across the country’s regions. The survey is harmonized with the EU model questionnaire and the data is comparable between regions according to NUTS2. 

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

There have been some changes but not enough to warrant the designation of a break in series.

Some changes to the methodology have been made in the last couple of years that might limit the comparability over time.

In 2020, the survey went from a mixed mode with a web administered survey / telephone interviews to mixed mode of web / paper survey. At the same time, the total sample size increased from 2 900 to 7 000 individuals.

In 2021, the calibration vector to include income, education crossed with birth region and region of residence based on degree of urbanization was updated. The former vector had no information on income, education and birth region were separated, and region of residence were based on whether it was in Stockholm, Malmö, or Gothenburg municipally. Furthermore, some further domain variables are now collected from administrative records, namely household size and income.

In 2023, in order to meet the precision requirements for age group 16-74 have Statistics Sweden increased the sample size  from 6 298 to 11 277 as well as  changed sample size allocation method from proportional (allocates the total sample size among the strata in proportion to stratum sizes) to Neyman (allocates the total sample size among the strata in proportion to stratum sizes and stratum variances.

In 2024, in order to continue meet the precision requirements for age group 16-74 years have Statistics Sweden increased the sample size from 11 277 to 14 205. The purpose of the increasing the sample size was to meet the precision requirements with a greater margin. Additionally, the removal of the upper age limit in the national survey led to a new numbering of strata.