This report examines e-government development worldwide, focusing on how well countries are using digital technologies to deliver public services and promote sustainable development. It finds significant strides have been made to digital governance, yet many countries still face hurdles in fully leveraging these advancements to enhance public services and participation. 

The e-government survey assesses 193 United Nations member states and selected city portals, using a variety of indicators to measure e-government performance, including online service delivery, telecommunications infrastructure, and human capital development. The survey also looks at how well countries are using e-government to reach vulnerable groups and promote social inclusion.

Key findings

• 71.5 per cent of Member States are now at the high or very high  E-Government Development Index (EGDI) levels.
• The global EGDI average has increased, with the proportion of the population lagging in digital government development decreasing from 45% in 2022 to 22% in 2024. 
• This progress is largely due to significant advancements in Asia, and steady improvement in the Americas, where more countries have joined the very high EGDI group.
• While all regions have achieved progress in various areas, the pace of development has been uneven and regional disparities persist.

Key recommendations

• Strengthen telecommunications networks and data centers to improve connectivity and ensure digital systems’ resilience.
• Create a universal safeguard framework that recognizes human rights and ensures safe, inclusive, and sustainable digital public infrastructure (DPI) adoption globally.
• Harmonize data protection and privacy regulations at the regional level to enable free data flow while safeguarding rights.
• Promote open data and create digital commons to make digital technologies more accessible and affordable.
• Promote digital literacy and skills development in rural and marginalized communities.