Cyprus sees decline in use of online government services

In 2023, Cyprus reported that only 66% of its citizens accessed government websites for online services, according to data from Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union. This figure is slightly below the EU average of 69%. While Cyprus scored better than Romania, which had the lowest at 23%, it lagged far behind Denmark, where 98% of citizens utilized online public services.

The 2023 data marks a significant decline for Cyprus, down from 90% in 2022. Meanwhile, the EU as a whole saw a slight increase in online interactions, rising from 68% to 69% during the same period. The statistics reflect the percentage of EU citizens aged 16-74 who accessed a public authority’s website or app within the past year.

The report highlights considerable differences among EU countries. Denmark (98%), Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden (all at 95%) had the highest engagement levels, while Romania (23%), Bulgaria (30%), and Germany (58%) were at the bottom of the list.

Diving deeper into the types of e-government services used in the EU, 42% of citizens access information about services, benefits, and laws over the past year. Other common activities included downloading or printing official forms (40%), accessing personal information (39%), and making appointments or receiving official documents (37% each). The proportion of individuals submitting tax declarations online stood at 29% while accessing public databases or registers was 19%. Additionally, 18% requested official documents or certificates, and 17% sought benefits or entitlements online.

In Cyprus, the most common activity was obtaining information about public services and benefits, with 50% of citizens engaging in this. Other activities included accessing personal information (43%), downloading or printing official forms (31%), and requesting benefits or entitlements online (28%). The report also noted that 25% accessed public databases or registers.

However, Cyprus experienced notable declines in several areas compared to 2022. The percentage of citizens receiving official communication or documents fell dramatically from 88% to just 19%. There were also drops in accessing personal information (from 51% to 43%) and making appointments (from 32% to 15%). On a positive note, there were increases in obtaining information (up from 41% to 50%), requesting benefits online (up from 11% to 28%), and accessing public databases (up from 15% to 25%).

[With info from CNA]