Digital Progress and Trends Report 2023

The world is experiencing a profound transformation driven by digitalization, with advances in digital technologies revolutionizing economies and societies. This shift has changed communication, information access, business practices, and environmental interactions. Embracing digitalization is now imperative for creating an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable world. Access to fast internet correlates with increased employment and firm productivity, while 3G coverage in Africa has reduced  extreme poverty. Analytics and data-driven decision-making can enhance small and medium enterprises' sales and competitiveness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, digitalization's progress and impacts are uneven, with millions still offline and significant disparities in internet access and digital skills. Digital technologies also pose new risks, including job displacement, misinformation spread, privacy breaches, and increased energy consumption. 

To address these challenges, the World Bank is launching the Digital Progress and Trends Report, focusing on tracking global digitalization, highlighting emerging trends and policy debates, and promoting actions to bridge the digital divide and maximize digital benefits for all.