Andorra Tops 19 DESI Indicators, Leads Europe in Digital Excellence

Andorra outperforms the European average in 19 of 29 comparable DESI indicators (66%), leading in six areas, placing in the top ten for 16, and improving its position in 12, according to the 2025 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) report based on 2024 data.

The index, which assesses progress across digital skills, infrastructure, business digitalisation, and public services, highlights Andorra's sustained leadership despite methodological changes that limit aggregated country rankings to individual metrics. The principality shows positive evolution from 2023 to 2025, though it slips in seven indicators. While strengths dominate, the report flags gaps in AI adoption, administrative sophistication, and specific infrastructure elements.

In digital skills, 97.7% of the population uses the internet, with 79.1% possessing basic or above-basic competencies—nearing the EU's 2030 target of 80%—and 47.3% exceeding basics. Andorra remains in the top ten across all skills metrics, with ICT specialists comprising 7% of the workforce, up from prior years, and 26.7% of firms providing tech training.

Infrastructure stands out, boasting 100% very high-capacity network coverage, fibre-to-the-home, and general internet adoption, securing European leads. It also tops 5G spectrum availability, though coverage in the key 3.4-3.8 GHz band remains at 0%.

Business digitalisation advances, with 61% of firms using cloud services, 72.7% employing at least one of cloud, data analytics, or AI, and rises in online sales (21.8% of SMEs, generating 10.4% of turnover). Yet adoption lags in specifics: only 21% analyse data and 29% use AI, trailing top economies and underscoring a shift needed from infrastructure to intensive tech exploitation.

Public services benefit from government website updates, propelling mobile compatibility to first place from last. Availability scores hit 83% for citizens and 92.7% for businesses, with 70% e-government usage. However, sophistication trails: just 23.6% of procedures offer pre-filled forms, transparency and data management score 45%, and user support 55.3%.

Public Function and Digital Transformation Minister Marc Rossell welcomed the results, stating they show the country taking steps for inclusive digital rollout. He credited rising business investments to the Business Digitalisation Programme and noted that 2024 data misses recent progress.