Digital transformation is essential for Spain’s economic and social development. In recent years, the country has made significant strides in adopting digital technologies, establishing itself as a key reference point in the European Union across various crucial areas.
The Report on the State of the Digital Decade provides an overview of the European Union’s progress toward a successful digital transformation for individuals, businesses, and the environment. This report reviews the evolution of digital policies and outlines how the EU is advancing toward its agreed goals and objectives, positioning the EU at the beginning of the Digital Decade Strategic Program for 2030. The report integrates the DESI (Digital Economy and Society Index), which previously tracked digital progress but has now eliminated the calculation of a global synthetic index, removing country rankings.
Additionally, country-specific reports complement the State of the Digital Decade report. These reports contain 36 key digitalization indicators, providing insight into how each EU member state aligns with the fundamental goals of the Digital Decade.
The indicators in each country report are structured around four fundamental dimensions:
- Digital Skills: Assesses the population’s level of digital training and the number of specialists in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
- Digital Infrastructure: Measures the coverage and adoption of high-capacity networks, such as fiber optics and 5G.
- Business Digitalization: Analyzes the level of adoption of digital tools by businesses, particularly SMEs, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and e-commerce.
- Digital Public Services: Evaluates the digitalization of public administration and the availability of online services for citizens and businesses.
State of Digitalization in Spain in 2024
In 2022, Spain ranked 7th among the 27 EU member states in the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), with a score of 60.8, surpassing the EU average of 52.3. In 2024, the data are:
Digital Skills
The 66% of the Spanish population has basic digital skills, which is 11 points above the EU average. Additionally, 5.2% of graduates in Spain specialize in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), exceeding the EU average of 4.5%. However, ICT specialists in Spain account for 4.4% of the workforce, slightly below the European average of 4.8%.
Example: The "Digitalízate Plus" program, launched by SEPE, has played a key role in training workers and job seekers in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
Digital Infrastructure
Spain excels in digital infrastructure:
• High-capacity fixed networks: 96% coverage, exceeding the 79% EU average.
• Fiber coverage: 95%, significantly higher than the 64% European average.
• 5G coverage: 92%, slightly above the 89% EU average.
Furthermore, automation and the robotization of data centers play a crucial role in improving the efficiency and security of these critical infrastructures.
Example: The National 5G Plan has enabled the development of pilot projects in cities such as Málaga and Barcelona, where smart mobility and connected healthcare solutions have been implemented.
Business Digitalization
In the business sector:
• Basic level of digital intensity in SMEs: 60% in Spain, slightly above the 57% EU average..
• Use of artificial intelligence: 9% of Spanish companies, surpassing the 8% European average.
• Use of cloud services: 27% in Spain, below the 40% EU average..
Example: The "Kit Digital" program, led by the government, has provided subsidies to over 200,000 SMEs to implement digital solutions, such as e-commerce and process automation.
Digital Public Services
Spain stands out in digital public services:
• Citizen interaction with e-government services: 83% in Spain, compared to the 75% European average.
• Availability of online public services for businesses: 91% in Spain, compared to the 79% EU average.
• Access to electronic health records: 84% in Spain, surpassing the 79% European average.
Moreover, data centers are exploring new ways to repurpose the calor residua they generate, turning it into a reusable energy source for other sectors.
Example: The "Mi Carpeta Ciudadana" platform allows citizens to access their administrative documents online, simplifying paperwork without requiring in-person visits to government offices.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite its progress, Spain still faces several challenges in its digitalization process:
• The digital divide between urban and rural areas remains a barrier to digital inclusion.
• Cybersecurity in businesses and public administration needs to be reinforced.
• Adoption of new technologies, such as blockchain and quantum computing is still in its early stages.
In recent years, Spain has made significant progress in digitalization, consistently outperforming the EU average and climbing in the DESI rankings. These advancements reflect Spain’s commitment to improving its digital infrastructure, promoting technology adoption in businesses, and enhancing public digital services.
Information obtained from España Digital