DIGITALPROGRESSANDTRENDSREPORT 2023 DigitalProgressandTrendsReport2023 DigitalProgressandTrendsReport2023 ©2024InternationalBankforReconstructionandDevelopment/TheWorldBank1818HStreetNW,Washington,DC20433 Telephone:202-473-1000;Internet:www.worldbank.org Somerightsreserved 123427262524Revised2024 Onp.xvii,thelastsentenceofthefirstbulleteditemhasbeenrevisedtorefertoindividualsinlow-incomecountries. ThisworkisaproductofthestaffofTheWorldBankwithexternalcontributions.Thefindings,interpreta-tions,andconclusionsexpressedinthisworkdonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsofTheWorldBank,itsBoardofExecutiveDirectors,orthegovernmentstheyrepresent.TheWorldBankdoesnotguaranteetheaccuracy,completeness,orcurrencyofthedataincludedinthisworkanddoesnotassumeresponsibilityforanyerrors,omissions,ordiscrepanciesintheinformation,orliabilitywithrespecttotheuseoforfailuretousetheinfor-mation,methods,processes,orconclusionssetforth.Theboundaries,colors,denominations,andotherinfor-mationshownonanymapinthisworkdonotimplyanyjudgmentonthepartofTheWorldBankconcerningthelegalstatusofanyterritoryortheendorsementoracceptanceofsuchboundaries. Nothinghereinshallconstituteorbeconstruedorconsideredtobealimitationuponorwaiveroftheprivi-legesandimmunitiesofTheWorldBank,allofwhicharespecificallyreserved. RightsandPermissions ThisworkisavailableundertheCreativeCommonsAttribution3.0IGOlicense(CCBY3.0IGO)http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo.UndertheCreativeCommonsAttributionlicense,youarefreetocopy,distribute,transmit,andadaptthiswork,includingforcommercialpurposes,underthefollowingconditions: Attribution—Pleasecitetheworkasfollows:WorldBank.2024.DigitalProgressandTrendsReport2023. Washington,DC:WorldBank.doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-2049-6.License:CreativeCommonsAttributionCCBY 3.0IGO Translations—Ifyoucreateatranslationofthiswork,pleaseaddthefollowingdisclaimeralongwiththeattribution:ThistranslationwasnotcreatedbyTheWorldBankandshouldnotbeconsideredanofficialWorldBanktranslation.TheWorldBankshallnotbeliableforanycontentorerrorinthistranslation. Adaptations—Ifyoucreateanadaptationofthiswork,pleaseaddthefollowingdisclaimeralongwiththeattribution:ThisisanadaptationofanoriginalworkbyTheWorldBank.ViewsandopinionsexpressedintheadaptationarethesoleresponsibilityoftheauthororauthorsoftheadaptationandarenotendorsedbyTheWorldBank. Third-partycontent—TheWorldBankdoesnotnecessarilyowneachcomponentofthecontentcontainedwithinthework.TheWorldBankthereforedoesnotwarrantthattheuseofanythird-party-ownedindividualcomponentorpartcontainedintheworkwillnotinfringeontherightsofthosethirdparties.Theriskofclaimsresultingfromsuchinfringementrestssolelywithyou.Ifyouwishtore-useacomponentofthework,itisyourresponsibilitytodeterminewhetherpermissionisneededforthatre-useandtoobtainpermissionfromthecopyrightowner.Examplesofcomponentscaninclude,butarenotlimitedto,tables,figures,orimages. AllqueriesonrightsandlicensesshouldbeaddressedtoWorldBankPublications,TheWorldBank,1818HStreetNW,Washington,DC20433,USA;e-mail:pubrights@worldbank.org. ISBN(paper):978-1-4648-2049-6 ISBN(electronic):978-1-4648-2050-2DOI:10.1596/978-1-4648-2049-6 Coverandinteriordesign:BillPragluski/CriticalStages,LLC. LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2023924019 Contents Forewordxi Acknowledgmentsxiii ExecutiveSummaryxv Abbreviationsxxiii PART1:PROGRESS Chapter1DigitalAdoption:AcceleratingPostpandemic,yetaWideningDivide3 Keymessages3 Introduction3 TheshareofInternetusersinmiddle-incomecountriesismovingclosertothatinhigh-incomecountries,whiletheshareinlow-incomecountries continuestolag4 Largergapsareformingininternetspeedsanddatause9 COVID-19boostedtheuseofbusiness,education,finance, medical,health,andshoppingapps11 Digitaluptakebybusinessesvariessignificantlyacrosscountriesand typesoftechnology13 Firmswithgreaterdigitalreadinessbeforethepandemicand thosethatinvestedindigitalsolutionsduringthepandemicwere moreresilient17 Digitaladoptionanddiffusionmustbefacilitatedtonarrowthe digitaldivide19 Notes20 References20 Chapter2TheDigitalSector:ADriverofInnovation,Growth,andJobCreation23 Keymessages23 Introduction23 Thedigitalsectordrivesgrowth,createsjobs,andgenerateshuge positivespillovers25 v Pathwaystocreatevalueinthedigitalsector30 Notes43 References43 Chapter3DigitalInfrastructure:TheContinualNeedforUpgradingandGreening45 Keymessages45 Introduction45 Telecomnetworkinvestmentmovesfromcoveragetowardupgrading46 Governmentscanincreasetheefficiencyoftelecommunication investment48 Datainfrastructure—IXPs,datacenters,andcloudcomputing—is avitalpartofthedigitaleconomy51 Developingcountriesneedtoaccelerateinvestmentindatainfrastructure56 Greeningdigitalinfrastructurecreatesopportunitiesforlow-and middle-incomecountries57 Notes61 References62 PART2:EMERGINGTRENDS Chapter4DigitalPublicInfrastructure:TransformingServiceDelivery AcrossSectors67 Keymessages67 Introduction67 WhatisDPI,andwhyisitimportant?68 KeygapsremaininaccesstoIDs,e-signatures,dataexchange,and digitalpayments74 HowtobuildgoodDPI81 Notes82 References82 Chapter5Art