According to the OECD, Estonia invests the most in developing its digital state among the surveyed countries – 3.3% of GDP. 

OECD Deputy Secretary-General Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen presented the latest digital economy report at the Tallinn Digital Summit earlier this week. The report examines countries’ priorities, policies, and practices in managing changes in the digital age. According to the report, Estonia invests the most in developing its digital state among the surveyed countries.

The report examined the digital strategies and policy initiatives of 38 OECD countries, which aim to increase the use of digital technologies, promote social welfare, and boost innovation. The priority areas for OECD countries are digital governance, connectivity, and skills.

“We have been investing in the development of digital governance systems in Estonia for decades, and almost all our public services are digitally accessible.”
Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economy and Industry

In the field of digital governance, Estonia remains at the forefront globally. According to the OECD, Estonia invested the most in implementing its national digital strategy among the 38 surveyed countries in 2022 – slightly over 3% of GDP.

“We have been investing in the development of digital governance systems in Estonia for decades, and almost all our public services are digitally accessible. The report confirmed that Estonia is the only country investing over three per cent of GDP in promoting digital solutions, setting an example for other countries,” said Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economy and Industry of Estonia during a panel discussion following the report’s presentation.

OECD report stresses the need for greater education investments

However, according to him, the rest of the world is catching up, and in the coming years, Estonia will focus on improving the quality of services and user satisfaction. “To make interaction with the state as simple and bureaucracy-free as possible for citizens and businesses, we use data and artificial intelligence in the best possible way,” added Keldo.

The OECD report also highlighted the need to increase investments in education, training, and lifelong learning initiatives to ensure people’s digital skills meet the needs of today’s labour market. It also emphasised the importance of increasing gender equality in the digital sector. In OECD countries, women still comprise only a quarter of information and communication technology (ICT) specialists and a smaller proportion of scientists and entrepreneurs.

The OECD Digital Policy Platform (DPP) provides information on national digital strategies and major digital policies and priorities in OECD Member countries and partner economies.

A growing concern regarding digital changes is the spread of misinformation, which undermines trust in both online environments and private and public digital services. The primary solution lies in education: enhancing media literacy and addressing issues related to data privacy and security.

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