> **来源：[研报客](https://pc.yanbaoke.cn)** # 2026 ICT Development Index Summary ## Core Content The **ICT Development Index (IDI) 2026** is a tool developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to measure progress toward **Universal and Meaningful Connectivity (UMC)**. It evaluates countries based on 10 indicators grouped into two pillars: **Universal Connectivity** and **Meaningful Connectivity**. The IDI provides a framework for assessing digital development, highlighting both achievements and persistent disparities. ## Main Objectives - To measure the progress of countries and regions toward UMC. - To provide a consistent and comparable framework for tracking digital development over time. - To support evidence-based policymaking by highlighting connectivity gaps and trends. ## Key Points - **UMC** is defined as the possibility for everyone to be online in optimal conditions, at an affordable cost, anywhere and anytime needed. - The IDI does **not rank** economies but instead reports scores, emphasizing progress rather than competition. - The IDI methodology was revised in 2023 and is valid for four years, with the 2026 edition being the fourth under this updated framework. - The IDI covers **159 economies** in 2026, down from 164 in 2025, due to declining data availability. - The index has **methodological limitations**, as it does not fully capture all aspects of meaningful connectivity, such as **digital skills** and **online safety**. ## Methodology The IDI is based on a **conceptual framework** that includes: - **10 indicators** divided into two pillars: - **Universal Connectivity**: Focuses on access and infrastructure. - **Meaningful Connectivity**: Emphasizes affordability, use, and quality of access. - **Normalization and weighting** are used to aggregate and compare the scores. - **Outliers** are handled to ensure the reliability of the index. - **Data coverage** is limited, with some economies excluded due to insufficient data points. ## Limitations and Considerations - **Digital skills** are not included in the IDI due to the lack of comparable data across countries. - The **score calculation** involves **estimations and imputations**, which may affect accuracy. - **Time lag** is present, as the 2026 edition is based on 2024 data. - **Country-level scores** may mask disparities within regions or demographic groups, so disaggregated data are necessary for effective policy design. ## Key Findings - **Global progress** toward UMC has been encouraging, with many countries improving their scores. - **Affordability** and **Internet use** have generally increased. - **Connectivity expansion** and **network reach** have improved, but **inequalities remain**. - The **IDIs** for 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 are fully comparable, but they cannot be compared with earlier editions due to changes in methodology. ## Recommendations and Future Outlook - **Sustained investment** in ICT statistics is crucial to improve data availability and quality. - **Enhanced statistical capacity** and **international cooperation** are needed to support the digital development agenda. - The **IDIs** will be revised starting in 2027, but major changes are constrained by the lack of comparable data in key areas. - Stakeholders are encouraged to **supplement IDI results** with additional data and tools for a more comprehensive understanding of digital development. ## Conclusion The IDI 2026 reflects continued progress toward UMC, although disparities persist. The index remains a **valuable but partial** measure of digital development. It underscores the need for **improved data collection**, **greater statistical capacity**, and **inclusive digital policies** to ensure no one is left behind in the digital transformation. ## Key Figures and Tables - **Figure 1**: Structure of the ICT Development Index. - **Figure 2**: Distribution of IDI 2026 scores and pillar scores. - **Figure 3**: Distribution of IDI 2026 scores by income group. - **Figure 4**: Relationship between IDI 2026 scores and GNI per capita. - **Figure 5**: IDI 2026 scores by region. - **Table 1**: IDI scores by economy, including changes from 2023 to 2026. ## Additional Resources - **ITU DataHub**: Provides access to the IDI Dashboard and other related datasets. - **Digital Regulation Toolkit**: Offers guidance for developing national digital skills strategies. - **Uncertainty Analysis**: Available in the IDI Audit conducted by the European Union Joint Research Centre. ## Legal and Licensing Information - The IDI is licensed under the **Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 3.0 IGO license**. - Users must not imply ITU endorsement of any specific organization, product, or service. - Translations of the IDI must include the **disclaimer** and **suggested citation**. ## Final Notes - The **IDIs** are not a complete picture of UMC but serve as a **practical tool** for tracking progress. - The **foreword** by Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava emphasizes the importance of **collaboration** and **data-driven policies**. - The **next revision** of the IDI will begin in 2027, but the current methodology is unlikely to undergo major changes due to data constraints.