Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development

e-mail contact : ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu

The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 4 on ensuring inclusive and quality education for all; which is embedded in the European Commission's Priorities under 'A Europe fit for a digital age', 'An economy that works for people' and 'Promoting our European way of life'.

SDG 4 seeks to ensure people have access to equitable and quality education through all stages of life, as well as to increase the number of young people and adults who have the relevant skills for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The goal also envisages the elimination of gender and income disparities in access to education.

Digital skills are of critical value for working, learning and social interaction.

The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and the 2030 Digital Compas: the European way to the Digital Decade set a target for the EU to raise the share of people aged 16 to 74 who have at least basic digital skills to 80 % in 2030.

This indicator measures the share of people aged 16 to 74 who have at least basic digital skills. It is a composite indicator based on selected activities performed by individuals on the internet in specific areas: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety and problem solving. The indicator assesses digital skills classified into six levels, of which the two highest constitute the basic or above basic level of digital skills. The indicator is based on data from the EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals.

% of individuals aged 16 to 74.

3 months prior to the survey or 12 months prior to the survey (depending on the variable feeding into the composite indicator)

The indicator is produced according to the high-level quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).

ESS (ICT survey)

Data source: European Statistical System (ESS); EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals (ICT Survey)

Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, based on data reported by the countries.

Every 2 years

The indicator is updated every second year. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.

T+0 years

New data points are disseminated at the end of the reference year.

All EU MS

Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Candidate countries and potential Candidate countries.

All EU MS

Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.

< 5 years

The digital skills indicapotr methodology has changed substantially to reflect the Digital Competence Framework 2.0. As a consequence, 2021 is the beginning of a new time series.

< 3 data points

Indicator with only two data point due to the methodological revision in 2021.

Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).

See table  sdg_04_70

Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/sdi/overview

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