12.07.

2020 COVID-19 Push ng More Government Act v t es Onl ne Desp te Pers stent D g tal D v de, Annual E-Government Survey F nds | Meet ng…

PRESS RELEASE

COVID-19 Pushing More Government Activities Online Despite Persistent Digital Divide,
Annual E-Government Survey Finds
NEW YORK, 10 July (Department of Economic and Social A airs) — As the COVID-19 pandemic forces lockdowns, most
countries and municipalities are pursuing digital government strategies — many with innovative initiatives — but vast
numbers of people still do not have access to online services, according to the 2020 edition of the United Nations
E‑Government Survey, released today.
Leading the 2020 ranking of the 193 United Nations Member States in terms of digital Government — which captures the
scope and quality of online services, status of telecommunication infrastructure and existing human capacity — are
Denmark, the Republic of Korea and Estonia, followed by Finland, Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the
United States, the Netherlands, Singapore, Iceland, Norway and Japan.

Among the world’s least developed countries, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Cambodia have become leaders in digital
government development, advancing from the middle to the high E-Government Development Index (EGDI) group in 2020.
 Mauritius, the Seychelles and South Africa are leading the e-government ranking in Africa. Overall, 65 per cent of Member
States are at the high or very high EGDI level.
“The pandemic has renewed and anchored the role of digital government — both in its conventional delivery of digital
services as well as new innovative e orts in managing the crisis,” said Liu Zhenmin, United Nations Under‑Secretary-General
for Economic and Social A airs.

In responding to the current health emergency, Governments have put in place new tools, such as dedicated COVID-19
information portals, hackathons, e-services for supply of medical goods, virtual medical appointments, self-diagnosis apps
and e-permits for curfews.  Many countries were quick to deploy tracking and tracing apps, and apps for working and
learning from home.
Innovative digital government responses to COVID-19 include online dashboards in Canada and Australia to share
information and track emergency responses.  In China, chatbots are used to assess patients' risk of being infected.  A
community engagement app in Estonia allowed local governments to directly interact with their constituents, including by
sharing COVID-19 information, posting photos and videos and even organizing virtual events.  In Croatia, a “virtual doctor” is
powered by arti cial intelligence and developed by technology rms in cooperation with epidemiologists.  In London, the use
of cameras, sensors and arti cial intelligence algorithms — normally intended to control tra c — now measures distance
between pedestrians to control social distance.
E-Government progress still hindered by digital divide
As a development tool, the E-Government Survey examines countries’ strengths, challenges and opportunities, and informs
policies and strategies.  The 2020 edition found that progress has been made across all regions, even in the least developed
countries.  Over 22 per cent of countries were promoted to higher levels of e-government development.
“While e-government rankings tend to correlate with the income level of a country, nancial resources are not the only
critical factor in advancing digital government,” said Mr. Zhenmin.  “A country’s political will, strategic leadership and
commitment to advance digital services can improve its comparative ranking.”

Yet, despite the gains and major investments in e-government by many countries, the digital divide persists.  Seven out of
eight countries with low scores are in Africa and belong to the least developed countries group.  The regional average index
scores for countries in Africa are almost one third lower (at 0.3914) than the world average EGDI of 0.60.
Alongside these trends, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only reinvigorated the role of digital Government in its conventional
delivery of public services and in ensuring business continuity, but has also brought about innovative ways of managing the
crisis, such as in contact tracing, e-health, online learning, and remote working.
About the United Nations E-Government Survey
The United Nations E-Government Survey, published by the Department of Economic and Social A airs, is prepared over a
two-year period following an established methodology.  It looks at how digital government can facilitate integrated policies
and services across 193 United Nations Member States.  The Survey supports countries’ e orts to provide e ective,
accountable and inclusive digital services to all and to bridge the digital divide and leave no one behind.

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12.07.2020 COVID-19 Push ng More Government Act v t es Onl ne Desp te Pers stent D g tal D v de, Annual E-Government Survey F nds | Meet ng…

In the report of the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, the E-Government Survey is recognized as a
key ranking, mapping and measuring tool, supporting the digital transformation of countries.
Following the global launch of the 2020 Survey on 10 July, technical webinars are scheduled to share further insights and key
ndings at the global, regional and local levels, including on thematic areas such as e-participation, data governance and
capacities for digital transformation.  Regional information sessions will be held in the following months in collaboration with
United Nations Regional Commissions.
In addition to the English edition, the Survey will also be made available in Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish, thanks to
the collaboration with external partners. 
Additional information on the United Nations E-Government Survey and the schedule of its launch activities can be found at:
bit.ly/EGovernmentSurvey (https://bit.ly/EGovernmentSurvey), #EGovernmentSurvey.

Media contacts: Dan Shepard, United Nations Department of Global Communications, [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]); Helen Rosengren, United Nations Department of Economic and Social A airs, [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]).

 For information media. Not an o cial record.

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