Studies
With its monitoring system, Digital Public Services Switzerland obtains an overview of eGovernment progress in Switzerland and compares it with other countries. National and international studies form the information basis for this.
Overview of national and international studies
| Study | Subject | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Study | eGovernment Monitor study | Subject | Satisfaction with and (mobile) use of electronic public services, usage barriers. |
| Study | eGovernment Benchmark report | Subject | Examines the extent to which online public service offerings fulfil the requirements of "user-friendliness", "transparency", "cross-border mobility for the population and businesses" and "basic services". |
| Study | eGovernment Survey | Subject | eParticipation Index and eGovernment Development Index (= Online Service Index, Telecommunications Infrastructure Index and Human Capital Index). |
| Study | National eGovernment Study | Subject | Use and availability of electronic public services. |
| Study | Other studies | Subject |
National eGovernment Study
The National eGovernment Study published on 10 May 2022 confirms the trend: the demand for electronic public services is greater than the supply available from the public authorities. As part of the study, the Swiss population, Swiss businesses and the public services were asked about the use and implementation of e-services.
Published by: Digital Public Services Switzerland and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
EU's 2024 eGovernment Benchmark report
On 2 July 2024, the European Commission published the eGovernment Benchmark 2024 report. The report analyses the availability and the state of development of eGovernment services in line with the EU's strategic objectives, and compares how administrations across Europe provide digital public services. For this purpose, 37 countries (2023: 35 countries) were analysed. How does Switzerland compare?
Switzerland has improved its overall score from 58 to 60 points, but is still below the EU average of 76 points. While 88 % of services in the EU are online, Switzerland has an online rate of 79 %. In particular, Switzerland has improved from 62 points to 73 points in the area of digitalisation for companies, from 55 to 59 points in the area of relocation and from 41 to 44 points in the area of justice. With 55 points, there is still potential in the area of services for natural persons. The biggest areas of action for Switzerland are transparency in the provision of services and the handling of personal data (CH: 45 %, EU: 67 %) and the use of key technologies such as e-ID, electronic documents, pre-filled forms and digital post (CH: 49 %, EU 78 %).
The 2024 report provides a valuable basis for an in-depth evaluation of the special features of Switzerland and the differences between the cantons in addition to a comparative view of other countries.
Editor: European Commission
eGovernment MONITOR 2024
The eGovernment MONITOR 2024 survey, published on 8 October 2024 by Initiative D21 and the Technical University of Munich, uses a representative survey of the online populations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to look into the usage and acceptance of digital government services.
The eGovernment MONITOR 2024 makes it clear that the public's demands regarding digital public services – and the use of these services – are continuing to grow.
Published by: Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Initiative D21; conducted by Kantar
eGovernment Survey 2024
The eGovernment Survey 2024, published by the United Nations (UN), examines global and regional e-government development in 193 member states through a comparative assessment of national government portals. The study is published every two years and creates a ranking in the area of digital administration (e-government Development Index EDGI). This consists of the weighted average of three sub-components: the Online Service Index (OSI), the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII) and the Human Capital Index (HI).
The survey also includes the E-Participation Index (EPI), which focuses on the use of online services through "electronic information exchange," "electronic consultation," and "electronic decision making." The study also measures the e-government status of cities (Local Online Service Index, or LOSI). In Switzerland, the city of Zurich was assessed at the local level.
The new Digital Government Model Framework is presented in the 13th edition of the survey. This provides countries with a comprehensive roadmap for effectively planning, implementing and assessing digital government initiatives. An addendum explores the opportunities and challenges associated with the integration of AI in the public sector.
Denmark, Estonia and Singapore emerged as the global leaders in the most recent survey. Switzerland is ranked 32nd in the current EPI, with an index value of 0.82 (2022: 41st; index value 0.70), and 26th in the EGDI, with an index value of 0.90 (2022: 23rd; index value 0.88). Having improved across all index values, it is well above the international average (EGDI 0.64) and slightly above the European average (EGDI 0.85). Switzerland has room for improvement in the Online Services Index, particularly with regard to the traceability of personal data and accessible portals. With an index value of 0.81, the city of Zurich is ranked 27th in the LOSI.
Published by: United Nations (UN)
Overview of other surveys on the digitalisation of public services
On 26 September, Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) jointly published the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024. The study shows which countries are leading in global innovation by examining the global innovation trends of 133 economies worldwide. The 17th edition of the GII measures innovation on the basis of 80 criteria such as institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, investment, adaptation, knowledge diffusion and creative outputs. The study is compiled on the basis of a country's "innovation inputs" and "innovation outputs". Innovation inputs include a country's human capital, research, infrastructure, and market and business sophistication. Innovation outputs include knowledge and technology, as well as creativity.
In the World Digital Competiveness Ranking 2024, the Lausanne Institute for Management Development examines the digital competitiveness of 67 countries. The results are divided into three main categories of knowledge, future capability and technology - with sub-categories. Switzerland ranks second (fifth in 2023), just behind Singapore.
Switzerland is still top in terms of knowledge, and has improved in terms of technology (4th place) and future prospects (5th place). In particular, it has made progress in high-tech exports (9th place), e-participation (up 11 places to 27th place) and cyber security (11th place).
Published by: Lausanne Institute for Management Development
As part of the annual census for the Federal Statistical Office, the omnibus survey on internet access and use was conducted in the second quarter of 2023. More than 98 per cent of the population stated that they had access to the internet. Nine out of ten people used the internet every day in 2023. The most frequently used end device is the smartphone, while the proportion of other networked devices (e.g. televisions) is steadily increasing. Nevertheless, the type and frequency of internet use varies greatly among the population. Just under half of users consider their use to be intensive (more than 10 hours per day). The proportion of these Internet users varies greatly according to age, level of education, self-perceived financial situation and place of residence.
Published by: Federal Statistical Office
2024 commune survey on digitalisation
Fourth survey on the status of digitalisation in municipalities
The fourth representative commune survey on digitalisation conducted by the association Myni Gmeind together with the Association of Swiss Communes (ASC) shows that the vast majority of communes see digitalisation as an opportunity. 82 % of respondents state that improving services and customer benefits are the reasons for their commitment to digitalisation. The biggest hurdle remains the scarcity of human and financial resources, as the fourth survey on on digitalisation in Swiss municipalities shows.
Published by: Myni Gmeind and the Association of Swiss Communes
The Index of Digital Political Participation in Switzerland (DigiPartIndex) records the extent to which it is possible to participate digitally in the political process in Switzerland and maps the cantons in a comparable manner.
Published by: The Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (ZDA)
The Swiss Accessibility Study focuses on the accessibility of mobile apps in 2023.
Published by: Access for all, foundation for accessible technology use
Based on the websites of 171 Swiss cities and urban communes, the Digital City Monitor surveys the status of digital transformation and provides a rating for each city and urban commune surveyed.
Published by: Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW in collaboration with KPMG Switzerland
As part of the ‘Digitalisation and Society’ project, the Risiko-Dialog foundation is addressing the question of how digital transformation can succeed together with people in the area of conflict between opportunities and dangers. The Mobiliar DigitalBarometer is an annual study that measures the mood of the Swiss population with regard to various topics related to digitalisation.
Published by: Stiftung Risiko_Dialog, in partnership with Die Mobiliar