Information on data
ICT usage in households and by individuals
The following information is available in this folder in the database:
- households: annual data on internet connection
- individuals:
- annual data on a variety of topics, such as internet access and use, e-commerce, e-government
- data, collected usually every 2 years, on topics such as green ICT, Internet of Things, privacy and protection of personal data online, electronic identification
- special modules or questions collected occasionally on specific topics, such as ICT usage at work
Data refer to persons aged 16 to 74 years and are broken down by socio-economic background variables, such as age, sex, employment status, country of birth, degree of urbanisation or cohesion regions.
Some data are available with a regional breakdown according to the nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) level 2.
Detailed overview of information collected
Available countries
Statistics are available for the EU and its members. Depending on the indicator, some data are also available for non-EU countries.
Reference period and data release
Data are released in December of the reference year.
Data revisions
When national statistical authorities revise their national data, they provide these updates to Eurostat. After validation by Eurostat, the datasets are updated.
Data sources
The data source is the annual EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals.
ICT usage in enterprises
The following information is available in this folder in the database:
- annual data on a variety of topics, such as e-commerce, access and use of the internet, and the composite digital intensity index (DII)
- data, collected usually every 2 years, on topics such as ICT specialists, e-invoicing, ICT security, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, sharing information electronically within the enterprise, ICT and the environment
- special modules or questions collected occasionally on specific topics, such as Internet of Things, use of robotics or 3D printing.
The digital intensity index (DII) is a composite indicator, derived from the survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises. The indicator is calculated based on 12 variables, with each of the variables having a score of 1 point.
The DII distinguishes 4 levels of digital intensity for each enterprise:
- 0-3 points: very low
- 4-6 points: low
- 7-9 points: high
- 10-12 points: very high
The DII composition varies between different survey years, depending on the questions included in the survey, hence the comparability over time may be limited.
The source data refer to enterprises with at least 10 employees or self-employed persons in economic activities according to the NACE revision 2 sections C to J, L to N, and group 95.1.
For more information, consult the metadata on digital intensity index.
Data refer to enterprises with at least 10 employees or self-employed persons in economic activities according to the statistical classification of economic activities (NACE Rev. 2) sections C to J, L to N and group 95.1.
Data are available broken down by economic activity and by size class of enterprises.
Detailed overview of information collected
The statistics on ICT usage of enterprises are part of European business statistics.
Available countries
Statistics are available for the EU and its members. Depending on the indicator, some data are also available for non-EU countries.
Reference period and data release
Data are released in December of the reference year.
Data revisions
When national statistical authorities revise their national data, they provide these updates to Eurostat. After validation by Eurostat, the datasets are updated.
Data sources
The data source is the annual EU survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises.
Digital skills
The following information is available:
- ICT users: data on digital skills of persons aged 16 to 74 years and the composite digital skills indicator. Data are usually collected every 2 years;
- ICT specialists:
- data on ICT competence and demand for ICT skills in enterprises (enterprises employing ICT specialists, enterprises recruiting or trying to recruit ICT specialists, performing ICT functions in enterprises). Data are usually collected every 2 years. They refer to enterprises with at least 10 employees or self-employed persons in economic activities according to statistical classification of economic activities (NACE Rev. 2) sections C to J, L to N and group 95.1, broken down by economic activity and by size class of enterprises;
- annual data on the number of employed ICT specialists aged 15 to 74 years, broken down by sex, by education attainment level, age and by NACE Rev.2 activity;
- ICT training:
- enterprises providing ICT training: data are usually collected every 2 years. They refer to enterprises with at least 10 employees or self-employed persons in economic activities according to NACE Rev. 2 sections C to J, L to N and group 95.1, by economic activity and by size class of enterprises;
- annual data on persons aged 15 to 74 years who have an ICT education, broken down by labour status
- annual data on employed persons aged 15-74 years who have an ICT education, broken down by sex, education attainment level, and age.
- Labour market demand for ICT specialists in online job advertisements – experimental statistics:
- data on the shares and growth rates of online job advertisements (OJAs) posting recruitment for ICT specialists positions. These experimental statistics are produced using information such as occupation or location, web scraped from job ads posted on online job portals;
- quarterly data, broken down by NUTS-2 regions and by occupation (ISCO-08).
The digital skills indicator (DSI) is a composite indicator, derived from the survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals. The indicator is based on selected activities related to internet or software use performed by people, covering 5 areas:
- information and data literacy skills
- communication and collaboration skills
- digital content creation skills
- safety skills
- problem-solving skills.
These reflect the 5 competence areas of the revised digital competence framework (Digcomp 2.0). It is assumed that people who have performed certain activities have the corresponding skills, hence the indicator can be considered as a proxy of peoples' digital skills. To have at least basic overall digital skills (derived as a sum of basic and above basic levels), people must know how to do at least one activity related to each area.
The source data refer to people aged 16-74.
For more information on DSI levels and the types of activities related to each skill, consult the metadata on individuals' level of digital skills.
Available countries
Statistics are available for the EU and its members. Depending on the indicator, some data are also available for non-EU countries.
Reference period and data release
Data are released based on the schedule below:
- December of the reference year: data on digital skills of people, ICT competence and demand for ICT skills in enterprises and ICT training provided in enterprises
- end of each quarter for the previous reference quarter: data on labour market demand for ICT specialists in online job advertisements (experimental statistics)
- April/May of the year following the reference year: data on ICT specialists in employment
- October of the year following the reference year: data on ICT education
Data revisions
When national statistical authorities revise their national data, they provide these updates to Eurostat. After validation by Eurostat, the datasets are updated.
For data on labour market demand for ICT specialists in online job advertisements: The source data are revised every quarter if errors are found (for example due to processing or misclassification) or if a new version of a classification is introduced. The revisions are applied to all historical data.
Data sources
The data sources are:
- digital skills of people: EU survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals
- ICT competences and demand for ICT skills in enterprises, and ICT training provided in enterprises: EU survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in enterprises
- ICT specialists in employment and employed persons with an ICT education: EU labour force survey
- labour market demand for ICT specialists in online job advertisements (experimental statistics): Online Job Advertisements (OJA) produced by the Web Intelligence Hub (WIH) of Eurostat
ICT sector
The following annual data are available in this folder in the database:
- contribution of the ICT sector to the gross value added
- percentage of ICT personnel on total employment
- change of value added in current prices by the ICT sector
- business expenditure on research and development (R&D) in the ICT sector
- R&D personnel in the ICT sector
The indicators are provided for an aggregate of the economic activities of the ICT sector consisting of ICT manufacturing and ICT services, based on the statistical classification of economic activities (NACE Rev. 2).
Available countries
Statistics are available for the EU and its members. Depending on the indicator, some data are also available for non-EU countries.
Reference period and data release
Data are released in December of the year following the reference year.
Data revisions
When national statistical authorities revise their national data, they provide these updates to Eurostat. After validation by Eurostat, the datasets are updated.
Data sources
The data sources are structural business statistics, research and development (R&D), and national accounts.
Additional indicators on digitalisation
The following information is available:
- recorded offences: annual data on cybercrime – acts against computer systems
- internet coverage and prices:
- annual data on broadband internet coverage by speed and technologies
- mobile and fixed broadband prices by type of offer (least expensive)
Available countries
Statistics are available for the EU and its members. Depending on the indicator, some data are also available for non-EU countries.
Reference period and data release
Data are released based on schedule outlined below:
September of the year following the reference year:
- internet coverage and prices
May 2 years after the reference year:
- recorded offences by offence category – police data
Data revisions
When national statistical authorities revise their national data, they provide these updates to Eurostat. After validation by Eurostat, the datasets are updated.
Data sources
The data sources are:
- internet coverage and prices:
- recorded offences: crime and criminal justice