One of the development goals that the European Union (EU) has set itself for this decade as part of the so-called Digital Decade is that by 2030. 80 % of the EU population will have at least basic digital competences. 

According to the latest Eurostat data, Poland is quite far from this goal. In 2023, 44.3 % of Poles (aged 16-74) had digital skills at least at a basic level, against an EU average of 55.4 %. 

To be considered as having at least basic digital skills, a participant in the Eurostat survey had to demonstrate this level of skills in each of five areas: using information and data online; communication and collaboration skills online; creating content using a computer; skills to stay safe in the digital world; and problem-solving skills.

The European leaders in this ranking are the Netherlands, Finland and Norway. In these countries, the percentage of citizens with at least basic skills has already exceeded 80 %. 

Both Poland and the EU have seen a slight increase in this percentage compared to the 2021 survey. (at that time, the percentage of Poles with basic digital skills was 43 %). 

According to the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), it is not surprising that the percentage of EU citizens with at least basic digital skills decreases with the age of digital users. However, from the perspective of Poland and the issues of an ageing society and the so-called silver economy, the deficiencies in digital competences in the three oldest age groups (45-74) may be worrying. 

The percentage of Polish citizens with basic skills at the age of 55-64 is almost twice as low as the EU average. However, differences to Poland’s disadvantage exist in every age group surveyed. According to PIE, the digital exclusion of people around and over 50 may hinder the realisation of the economic potential of such people. 

Adrian Andrzejewski