How’s life in the digital age in Latvia?
Latvia’s exposure to both the opportunities and risks of the digital transformation is below the OECD average, which reflects the country’s limited degree of digitalisation relative to other OECD countries. Almost 80% of households in Latvia now have Internet access at home, which is just above the OECD average. However, 82% of individuals in Latvia report having used the internet in the last 12 months, which is slightly below the OECD average. Only 7% of people in Latvia use the Internet to express political opinions online, and an equal figure uses it for medical appointments – both are below the OECD average. The major risks associated with internet in Latvia are those that affect children, 24% of which are identified as extreme Internet users, and cyberbullying is more common in Latvia than it is in most other OECD countries, just like in neighbouring Lithuania. The main opportunity of the digital age that stands out in Latvia is in the use of e-government services, which are used by 69% of people.
Note: This wheel depicts Latvia’s relative performance in terms of key opportunities and risks in the context of the digital transformation. The centre of the wheel corresponds to the lowest outcome observed across all OECD countries, while the outer circle corresponds to the highest outcome. For opportunities (in dark blue) longer bars indicate better outcomes, whereas for risks (in yellow), longer bars indicate worse outcomes. If data are missing for any given indicator, the relevant segment of the circle is shaded in white.