DCO launches Digital Economy Navigator 2025, calls for urgent action to close global digital gaps

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has unveiled the Digital Economy Navigator 2025 (DEN 2025) at the Second World Summit for Social Development, highlighting significant progress in digital development but warning of persistent gaps in access, gender inclusion, and AI readiness between high and low-income countries.

The DEN 2025 covers 80 countries representing 94 percent of global GDP and 85 percent of the world’s population, using 145 indicators and data from more than 41,000 people. Findings show that internet access now reaches more than 80 percent of people across the countries measured, with lower-middle-income economies recording the biggest improvement gains driven by targeted policy and investment. The DCO estimates that connecting underserved communities could allow an additional 1.3 billion people to access digital banking and online services.

DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya said DEN 2025 shows nations must shift from measuring progress to accelerating transformation. She urged governments to adopt more agile digital policy frameworks and called on industry to play a strategic role in responsible investment. She stressed that digital exclusion remains a threat, while collective action can enable every nation to participate and lead in the digital economy.

The report also highlights rapid but uneven AI development, with advanced economies moving fastest while regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia show high potential for catch-up if supported with infrastructure, investment, and skills development. Cross-border trade is growing, with 66 of the 80 countries deploying online service portals. However, restrictions on ICT goods remain a barrier to affordable device access.

Gender inclusion continues to rise, but gaps remain in digital skills and pathways to future careers. Global gender equality in digital participation averages 70.8 percent, yet only 3.1 percent of female graduates pursue ICT-related fields, according to the report.

DEN 2025 also introduces a new “Digital for Sustainability” pillar, reflecting the opportunity for emerging economies to leapfrog legacy systems and adopt cleaner technologies. The methodology and framework behind the navigator were validated by international experts to ensure relevance and reliability.

The DCO is encouraging governments, industry stakeholders, international organizations, and researchers to use DEN 2025 as a shared reference point to strengthen cooperation, build digital capacity, and expand trust in online systems to ensure digital transformation benefits are more widely distributed.