Digital Nation 2023 Sources

Good Things Foundation is the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity, working in partnership across the UK to Fix the Digital Divide for Good. Each year, we collate statistics from national datasets, public polling, and authoritative analysis to convey key facts about digital exclusion and inclusion in the UK. The full set of sources is provided below.

Please use and share this free resource, crediting Good Things Foundation and linking to our webpage so others can also access the full list of sources. Recommended citation:

Digital Nation 2023, Good Things Foundation.
Sources at: www.goodthingsfoundation.org/insights/building-a-digital-nation/

References

Cebr (2022), The economic impact of digital inclusion in the UK

Centre for Social Justice (2023), Left out: How to tackle digital exclusion and reduce the poverty premium with Virgin Money

Citizens Advice (2023), One million lose broadband access as cost of living bites

Good Things Foundation (2023), Digital skills pathway for shared prosperity

Good Things Foundation (2023), National Digital Inclusion Network member survey

Lloyds Banking Group (2022), UK Consumer Digital Index Report 2022

Lloyds Banking Group (2023), UK Essential Digital Skills for Work with FutureDotNow

NHS Digital (2023), NHS App hits over 30 million sign ups

Nominet (2022), Digital Youth Index

Ofcom (2023a), Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report

Ofcom (2023b), Affordability Tracker

Ofcom (2023c), Affordability of communications services (April 2023)

Ofcom (2022), Online Nation 2022 Report

Public First (2023), Poll for Good Things Foundation. Online survey conducted 3rd-4th May 2023; sample size 1,011 UK adults, weighted to nationally representative proportions.

Richard, C (2022), ‘Finally, some proof that refurbished smartphones help save the planet’, Backmarket – summarises findings from the French agency for ecological transition, ADEME.

Yates, S (2023), Types of UK internet users: Analysis of Ofcom 2023 data.

Digital Nation 2023: statistics with sources

10.2m people lack the most basic digital skills (i.e. foundation-level skills). Lloyds Banking Group (2022), UK Consumer Digital Index Report 2022
1 in 14 UK households (7%) have no access to the internet at home. Ofcom (2023a), Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report
2.5m UK households (7%-9%) struggle to afford fixed broadband services. Ofcom (2023b), Affordability Tracker (April and September 2023)
5.8m people still digitally excluded in 2032 without action. Cebr (2022), The economic impact of digital inclusion in the UK
Non-users are 2 times more likely to have a disability or health condition compared to extensive users. Yates 2023/Ofcom analysis
Non-users are 12 times more likely to be over 65 years old compared to extensive users. Yates 2023/Ofcom analysis
46% of non-users asked someone else to go online for them. Ofcom (2023a), Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report
Reasons given by non-users who don’t expect to be online in the next 12 months (Ofcom (2023a), Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report):
- 20% said it costs too much
- 20% said it’s too complicated
- 70% said they were not interested
Limited users are 5 times more likely to be from low income households compared to extensive users. Yates 2023/Ofcom analysis
Limited users are 6 times more likely to be over 65 years old compared to extensive users. Yates 2023/Ofcom analysis
1m lose broadband access in cost of living crisis. Citizens Advice (2023), One million lose broadband access as cost of living bites
77% believe internet access is now an essential need. Public First (2023), Poll for Good Things Foundation. Online survey conducted 3rd-4th May 2023; sample size 1,011 UK adults, weighted to nationally representative proportions.
5% of households on Universal Credit are on a social tariff. Ofcom (2023c), Affordability of communications services report (This is a rise from 3.4% in 2022).
Without internet access, people can pay up to 25% more for essential goods and services. Centre for Social Justice (2023), Left out: How to tackle digital exclusion and reduce the poverty premium
27% low-income adults ONLY go online by smartphone. Ofcom (2023c), Affordability of communications services (April 2023 report)
2.3m young people rely on mobile data for internet access. Nominet (2022), Digital Youth Index
68% community organisations need more devices for digitally excluded people. Good Things Foundation (2023), National Digital Inclusion Network survey.
74% of mixed ethnicity and Black internet users faced potential online harm in the last 4 weeks. Ofcom (2022), Online Nation 2022 Report
20% of unemployed people can’t do any essential digital skill for work. Lloyds Banking Group (2023), UK Essential Digital Skills for Work
32.6m people have high or very high levels of digital engagement. Lloyds Banking Group (2022), UK Consumer Digital Index Report 2022
30m NHS App users. NHS Digital (2023), NHS App hits over 30 million sign ups (January 2023; an increase from 22m in January 2022)
£9.48 ROI (return on investment) from basic digital skills support. Cebr (2022), The economic impact of digital inclusion in the UK
76% support Government investment in digital skills training to address digital exclusion. Public First (2023), Poll for Good Things Foundation. Online survey conducted 3rd-4th May 2023; sample size 1,011 UK adults, weighted to nationally representative proportions.
Benefits of Good Things (outcomes data from evaluating three UK Community Renewal Fund pilots delivered by Good Things Foundation). Good Things Foundation (2023), Digital skills pathway for shared prosperity. – 94% felt their digital skills improved, 92% felt their confidence improved, 86% felt more able to stay safe online
Better for business: 41% of the UK workforce can do all 20 essential workplace digital tasks. Lloyds Banking Group (2023), UK Essential Digital Skills for Work
Better for the UK: £13.7bn benefit to the economy fro fixing the digital divide. Cebr (2022), The economic impact of digital inclusion in the UK
Better for the planet: 90% of CO2 emissions can be saved by using a refurbished smartphone (preventing 77.6 kg of carbon emissions, while producing only 7.61kg of CO2 emissions end-to-end). Richard, C (2022), ‘Finally, some proof that refurbished smartphones help save the planet’, Backmarket – summarises findings from the French agency for ecological transition, ADEME.
I’m healthier. 78% say they use the internet to support their wellbeing. Ofcom (2023a), Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report
I’m happier. 77% say the internet helps them connect with family and friends. Ofcom (2023a), Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report
I’m better off. Manual workers with high or very high levels of digital engagement earn around £5k more each year more than less digitally engaged peers. Lloyds Banking Group (2022), UK Consumer Digital Index Report 2022
I’m saving. People with high or very high levels of digital engagement save around £659 more each year than less digitally engaged peers. Lloyds Banking Group (2022), UK Consumer Digital Index Report 2022
Geographical variation between the proportion of extensive internet users compared with the proportion of limited internet users. Yates, S (2023), Types of UK internet users: Analysis of Ofcom 2023 data.
- Scotland: 25% limited users compared to 30% extensive users
- Northern Ireland: 33% limited users compared to 24% extensive users
- Wales: 38% limited users compared to 19% extensive users
- North West of England: 30% limited users compared to 38% extensive users
- North East of England: 43% limited users compared to 19% extensive users
- Yorkshire & Humberside: 21% limited users compared to 35% extensive users
- West Midlands: 33% limited users compared to 24% extensive users
- East of England: 25% limited users compared to 31% extensive users
- London: 38% limited users compared to 17% extensive users
- South East of England: 44% limited users compared to 17% extensive users
- South West of England: 32% limited users compared to 28% extensive users

Accessibility description

Digital Nation 2023 is a picture with statistics about digital inequalities in the UK. The picture shows a river between two banks to convey the digital divide. The right bank (green) captures benefits of being online and fully digitally included. The left bank captures the scale of digital exclusion and who is most likely to be affected. Use of shading (from red to amber) reminds that digital exclusion is not binary; it is not a simple matter of online or offline, but a spectrum. Some people have no access, no skills, no support; others may be online but are ‘limited’ users of the internet. For example, someone who has a basic smartphone but cannot afford sufficient connectivity, or only has the skills to do basic messaging or social media. Five signposts on the left bank – access, skills, confidence, motivation, trust – are key aspects of support people need to cross the divide. Three bridges cross the river – capturing the three digital inclusion services delivered by Good Things Foundation with strategic and community partners: National Databank, National Device Bank, National Digital Inclusion Network. On the horizon, there is a map of the UK showing geographical variation in proportions of extensive and limited internet users. This is from analysis of Ofcom data by Prof. Simeon Yates of University of Liverpool.

More information

To find out more about Good Things Foundation’s offer and how it can help you – or how you can help us – please contact: partnerships@goodthingsfoundation.org

To find out more about Good Things Foundation’s work to build the evidence base on digital inclusion – please contact: research@goodthingsfoundation.org

You may also find these resources helpful:

Digital Exclusion Risk Index – toolkit developed by Greater Manchester Combined Authority with data relevant to England, Scotland, and Wales

Minimum Digital Living Standards project – led by University of Liverpool with partners to develop a holistic, household-level benchmark for the good, services, and capabilities needed for a family to feel digitally included in the UK