Monitoring 2020
With its monitoring system, eGovernment Switzerland creates an overview of eGovernment progress in Switzerland and compares it with other countries. Its current monitoring covers the results from September 2019 to August 2020, based on national and international studies, as well as its own analyses.
The following indicators for measuring Switzerland's eGovernment progress are examined within the framework of the monitoring process: e-services and e-participation, infrastructure, human capital and innovation, basic services, mobility and transparency. It also considers the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. A detailed report can be found here:
- Monitoring report 2020 (in German)
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- Format:
- Size:
- 784 kb
- Updated:
eGovernment Switzerland compared with other countries
Switzerland has dropped one place in the eGovernment Development Index and ranks 16th out of 193 countries (2018: 15th).
Supply and demand
Online services:
The examined services of the Swiss authorities can be provided almost entirely electronically (CH 83%; EU 86%).
The United Nations study shows that there is still room for improvement in the supply of e-services. In the past two years, Switzerland has not made any progress in the area of online services and ranks 36th (index value 0.83 out of 1) of 193 countries (global average 0.56). It has therefore fallen one place. Denmark and Singapore rank top of the list.
Sources: EU eGovernment Benchmark 2020; UN eGovernment Survey 2020
E-Participation:
The positive e-participation trend in recent years has continued in Switzerland. Out of a total of 193 countries, it has moved up from 41st (2019) to 18th place (2020). Denmark and South Korea rank top of the list.
Source: UN eGovernment Survey 2020
Usage and experience
Internet usage:
93% of the Swiss population uses the internet daily. Within five years, internet usage has increased by around 10%. Eight out of ten people use the internet on mobile devices; two years ago, only a quarter did so. The proportion of internet users rises with higher levels of education.
Source: 2019 survey conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on internet usage in Swiss households
Usage of online services:
60% (+2% compared to last year) of the Swiss population has used an online service provided by the authorities in the past 12 months (Austria: from 70% to 72%; Germany: from 48% to 54%). Almost three quarters of the population are satisfied with online services (Austria: 79%; Germany: 62%).
45% of Swiss respondents do not use the electronic channel to access public services, due to a lack of awareness. Half of the respondents feel that personal contact at the office is important and easier, even in this era of digitalisation, as it is quicker.
Source: 2020 eGovernment Monitor
Impact of the COVID-19 crisis
12% of Swiss respondents said that they had carried out more of their dealings with the authorities online during the COVID-19 crisis, with 3% using an e-service for the first time. However, the avoidance of interaction with the authorities was the most frequently cited response (30%). The result was identical in Austria, whereas the figures in Germany were lower.
Source: 2020 eGovernment Monitor
Mobility
Users who wish to obtain a service from another European country can do so for 55% (EU: 62%) of services to the general public and 97% (EU: 76%) of services to businesses.
Source: EU eGovernment Benchmark 2020
Infrastructure, human capital and innovation capacity
Telecommunications infrastructure
In terms of telecommunications infrastructure, Switzerland has an index value almost twice as high (0.95 out of 1) as the global value (global average 0.54). Switzerland has the world's most extensive mobile phone network and the highest density of broadband connections.
Source: UN eGovernment Survey 2020
Human capital
Three quarters of the Swiss population have good basic to advanced digital skills (FSO survey) and rank high internationally in this respect. In the current United Nations survey, Switzerland achieved a new high (index value 0.9 out of 1) in the area of human capital and is at an above-average level (global average 0.68).
Source: 2019 survey conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on internet usage in Swiss households; UN eGovernment Survey 2020
Innovation capacity
For the past decade, Switzerland has ranked first in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2020, followed by Sweden, the United States and the UK. The index uses 80 indicators to assess the innovative strength of 131 economies around the world. Switzerland achieved 1st place in the areas of knowledge and technology (number of patents granted, publication of scientific articles, etc.) and 2nd place in creativity (e.g. international brand value) and economic maturity (e.g. cooperation between the private sector and universities).
Source: The Global Innovation Index 2020
Basic services
Despite a considerable improvement (+15% compared to the preliminary study), Switzerland's level of development of basic services (electronic identity, electronic documents, authentic sources and digital post) is well below the European average (CH 36%; EU 61%). On the positive side, official documents can be sent and received electronically for more than half of public services.
Source: EU eGovernment Benchmark 2020
Transparency
Swiss authorities are open when it comes to information on their own responsibilities and performance (CH 67%; EU 74%). However, when it comes to the traceability of service provision (from filling in forms until a service is received), they remain closed off (CH 25%; EU 58%). The authorities have become considerably more transparent (+15% compared to the preliminary study) with regard to the use of personal data (CH 42%; EU 65%). Overall, Switzerland is still below the EU average (CH 45%; EU 66%) for the "transparency" indicator, despite a 5% improvement. There is, however, considerably more information available on business services than on services for the general public.
Source: EU eGovernment Benchmark 2020
eGovernment cooperation and legal framework
The cantons and communes collaborate to a large extent in eGovernment, and such cooperation is already anchored in law in six cantons.
Source: eGovernment Switzerland Programme Office survey (as of November 2019)
