Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
G4: Innovation and information society
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
Data given in this domain are collected annually by the National Statistical Institutes and are based on Eurostat's annual model questionnaires on ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) usage in households and by individuals. The model questionnaire changes every year. The changes of questions in the MQ are required by the evolving situation of information and communication technologies.
Large part of the data collected are used in the context of the follow up of the Digital Single Market process (Monitoring the Digital Economy & Society 2016-2021). This conceptual framework follows the 2011 - 2015 benchmarking framework, the i2010 Benchmarking Framework and the eEurope 2005 Action Plan. ICT usage data are also used in the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard (purchases over the Internet) and in the Employment Guidelines (e-skills of individuals).
The aim of the European ICT surveys is the timely provision of statistics on individuals and households on the use of Information and Communication Technologies at European level. Data for this collection are supplied directly from the surveys with no separate treatment.
Coverage:
The characteristics to be provided are drawn from the following list of subjects:
Breakdowns (see details of available breakdowns):
Relating to households:
Relating to individuals:
Regional breakdowns (NUTS) are available only for a selection of indicators disseminated in the regional tables in Eurobase (Regional Information society statistics by NUTS regions (isoc_reg):
ISCED 1997 up to 2013 and ISCED 2011 from 2014 onwards. The labels used in the Digital Economy and Society section (isoc) of Eurobase "Low formal education"/"Medium formal education"/"High formal education" refer to: Low formal education : At most lower secondary education [ISCED 0, 1, or 2]; Medium formal education: Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education [ISCED 3 or 4]; High formal education: Tertiary education [ISCED 5, 6, 7 or 8]
Regional breakdowns have been provided on a voluntary basis for 2006 and 2007 according to NUTS1 or NUTS2 by several countries. Starting from 2008, the collection of NUTS1 breakdowns is obligatory (regional breakdowns for all countries are available) while NUTS2 breakdowns are still optional.
The survey is a general population / household survey.
The household survey comprises questions at household level and individual level. Household level data and individuals data are broken down as described in point 3.1. Eurostat provides a model questionnaire on ICT usage in Households/by individuals which covers the following areas:
A detailed list of variables disseminated in Eurobase Where to find ICT usage indicators in Eurobase Database tables is annually updated; all variables collected in the framework of this survey can be found in the comprehensive database (ACCESS format) on the dedicated section.
Some definitions of socio-demographic background characteristics:
for details to all definitions see Methodological Manual
Households and individuals.
The population of households consists of all private households having at least one member in the age group 16 to 74 years.
The population of individuals consists of all individuals aged 16 to 74 (on an optional basis some countries collect separate data on other age groups, individuals aged 15 years or less, aged 75 or more).
EU-Member States, Candidate countries, Iceland and Norway. EU aggregates are available.
For some indicators also data from other countries are disseminated (without validation by Eurostat).
Time series (annual data) are available from 2003 onwards.
The questions in the model questionnaire are adapted each year to measure the development of the use of ICT. Therefore not all variables have long time series. An overview of variables per year Variables collected - ICT usage in households and by individuals is published on the dedicated website/comprehensive databases.
Not applicable
The most common units published are
% of households, % of individuals
All units and breakdowns available are listed in the related descriptive documents on the dedicated section at the end of the page.
In general, data refer to the first quarter of the reference year. For details see model questionnaires and country specific notes
Indicators from these surveys are among others used for benchmarking purposes (see under point 3.1). A set of benchmarking indicators using statistical information is to be provided through the ESS.
Regulation 808/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society. The objective of this framework regulation is to establish a common framework for the systematic production of Community statistics on the Digital economy and society. Annual implementing regulations allow for some flexibility in the content of the surveys. Follow this link to see all relevant legal acts.
Not applicable.
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
Not applicable
The target date is December of the survey year.
The planned release dates are announced some weeks in advance on the dedicated section Digital economy and society (after having informed the WG members).
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
Annual news releases online in December of the survey year or beginning of the following year, as well as news releases to specific occasions (eg Internet day), see point 8.1.
Statistics Explained articles, the digital publication and other general publications, see the dedicated section of Digital economy and society under Publications.
Please consult free data online or the comprehensive database (ACCESS format).
For the Households / individuals survey microdata were collected on an optional basis until 2010, on a mandatory basis since 2011. Microdata are available for scientific purposes at Eurostat.
Identification of commentary on the occasion of statistical releases: No official comments are made on the occasion of data releases.
Internet address: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
The Methodological Manuals (link in Annexes) used for the survey on ICT usage in households / by individuals and in enterprises are annually compiled by Eurostat in co-operation with Member States.
National Statistical Institutes provide Eurostat with Quality reports comprising general methodological information of each survey, on statistical unit, target and frame population, sampling design, response and non-response, data processing and sampling errors.
Summaries of these yearly metadata reports are published in the country specific notes and in the Methodological Manual (both links in Annexes).
The Methodological Manual provides guidelines and standards for the implementation of the surveys in the Member States. Furthermore, the use of the Eurostat model questionnaire improves comparability of the results of these surveys.
ICT usage statistics have overall good quality. The surveys are considered as reliable sources applying high standards with regard to the methodology. Like other surveys, the ICT usage surveys are based on a sample of the population. The results are therefore subject to the usual types of errors associated with random sampling.
Each year National Statistical Institutes provide Quality reports which are survey execution reports that allow to assess the survey carried out and to detect possible points where there is space for improvement.
The Quality reports describe the general and some more specific methodological characteristics related to the various stages of the national surveys in households / by individuals (e.g. survey type, statistical units and target population, stratification and sampling design, information on item and unit non-response, grossing-up procedures, standard error calculations, etc). Overview tables of survey periods and survey vehicles, sampling design and methods, frame populations, sample sizes, response rates, data collections methods, survey vehicles, etc.) are published in the Methodological Manual.
Users are considered to be the most important, who make most use of the data and contribute most to identifying/defining the topics to be covered. Hence, main users are consulted regularly (at hearings and task forces with Commission services) for their needs already at a very early stage; also informal contacts with relevant users take place. User needs are taken into account throughout the whole discussion process of the model questionnaires.
Large part of the data collected are used in the context of the 2016 - 2021 benchmarking framework for the Digital Agenda Scoreboard, Europe's strategy for a flourishing digital economy by 2020. ICT usage data are also used in the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard (purchases over the Internet) and in the Employment Guidelines (e-skills of individuals).
Well established contacts within the Commission and with the OECD allow us a clear picture about the key users' satisfaction as to the following quality aspects: good accuracy and reliability of results, very good timeliness, satisfactory accessibility, good clarity and comparability over time and between countries, very good completeness and relevance.
See also the Rolling Review of the Information society statistics published in 2011.
Very good completeness of variables and breakdowns. Incomplete data tables may be due to biennial or triennial questions in the Model questionnaire (MQ) or the optionality of question (response burden).
Changes of questions in the MQ are required by the evolving situation of information and communication technologies. Changed questions require changing the indicator codes, which break the time series and let tables appear incomplete.
A selection of ICT usage results are released in Eurobase tables. All results are disseminated in the comprehensive databases on the dedicated section Digital economy and society on the Eurostat website.
Good accuracy and reliability of results in general while for some not enough information available yet (standard errors not calculated for all indicators).
After aggregating the microdata, when computing the ratios, Eurostat will flag any result where the denominator is generated from less than 20 households / individuals as unreliable and not publish it on national level.Eurostat will publish and flag as unreliable any result where the denominator is generated from 20 to 49 households / individuals.
For accuracy measures see also Methodological Manual, for example in chapter about Sampling design or Data processing.
See section Quality assessment
National Statistical Institutes report in the annual execution reports about other non-sampling errors; overviews of non-response patterns are available in the Methodological Manual (see Unit non-response).
Data are delivered to Eurostat in the fourth quarter of the survey year and are released before the end of the same year (week 49-50).
Release dates are published on the dedicated website after the October Working group. In the last years, ICT usage results have been released as announced in the publised dates.
The model questionnaire is generally used in the Member States. Due to (small) differences in translation, in reference periods, in the used survey vehicle, in non-response treatment or different routing through the questionnaire, some results for some countries may be of reduced comparability.
Very good comparability over time since 2003 is achieved for most indicators. Restricted comparability over time for some variables is a consequence of the necessary changes in definitions and/or questions in order to measure the development of ICT (e.g. mobile internet, skills).
Not applicable.
Internal coherence is assured through extensive validation procedures that are applied to transmitted data.
In this survey around 150.000 households with at least one person aged 16-74 and around 200.000 individuals aged 16-74 in the EU were surveyed (sample figures refer to the 2016 survey).
The burden for respondents consists of around 120 answer possibilities; the estimated time to complete the questionnaire, depending on intensity of use, is between 10 and 25 minutes.
EU aggregates are compiled when the available countries represent 60% of the population and 55% of the number of countries defining the aggregate. When further national data become available they are automatically included in the existing aggregate. Hence Eurostat aggregates may change due to the arrival of further data over and above the 60%/55% rule.
Data transmitted by the reporting countries to Eurostat undergo detailed verifications by applying automated validation procedures at the level of variables and breakdowns. The second step of data verification consists in the time series checks. Before dissemination, results for the main indicators (for example the benchmarking indicators) are compared across countries.
If after these verifications and acceptance of data inconsistencies should be found, reporting countries may be asked to verify and revise their results.
The data set is based on sample surveys; detailed information to sample characteristics are included (occasionnally updated) in the Methodological Manual.
Annually
Data are generally collected through face to face or telephone interviews, see overview of data collection methods in the Methodological Manual.
Data transmitted by the NSIs to Eurostat undergo detailed verifications by applying automated validation procedures at the level of variables and breakdowns. A further step of data verification consists in the time series checks. Before dissemination, results for the main indicators (for example the benchmarking indicators) are compared across countries.
If after these verifications and acceptance of data inconsistencies should be found, reporting countries may be asked to verify and revise their results.
Starting with the 2014 survey, NSIs only transmit microdata to Eurostat. It is verified, aggregates are computed and ratios calculated for dissemination.
EU aggregates are compiled when the available countries represent 60% of the population and 55% of the number of countries defining the aggregate. Aggregates are only calculated using available data. No estimates are made for missing data except if provided by reporting countries.
Not applicable
see annexes