In the last decade, Argentina has made efforts to enhance digital access and use for all. Internet users, active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased. The country has progressed in the digital transformation of government, ranking among the most advanced countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in terms of open government data policies, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) OURdata Index.

Brazil continues to perform better than the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) average in selected indicators related to shaping an inclusive digital economy and society. However, despite some progress, the country remains below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) averages in some of these indicators. The country has made efforts to enhance access to communication infrastructure and services, although a significant digital divide still exists. Internet users, active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased in the last decade, albeit still below the OECD average. Brazil rose in the E-Government Development Index from 0.57 in 2008 to 0.73 in 2018, which is above the LAC average (0.65) but below the OECD (0.82). The index measures national administrations’ willingness and capacity to use information and communications technology (ICT). Additional open data indicators show that Brazil ranks relatively well regionally and globally (Open Knowledge Foundation, 2019; World Wide Web Foundation, 2017). The UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index shows that the economy’s support for online shopping was constant between 2015 and 2019 and is above the LAC average but below the OECD.

In the last decade, Chile has strengthened trust in digital technologies. In 2019, perceived e-commerce safety (73.1%) and trust in online privacy (59.6%) were above averages in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) (63.1% and 54.9%) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (58.3% and 45.6%). Performance in the Global Cybersecurity Index improved but remains below the OECD average. The country made progress in digital inclusion: Internet users and active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased.

Colombia has made efforts to enhance digital access and use for all. Internet users, active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased in the last decade. Colombia rose in the E-Government Development Index from 0.53 in 2008 to 0.69 in 2018, which is above the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) average (0.65) but below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average (0.82). Colombia had lower foreign direct investment (FDI) restrictions than LAC and the OECD in the 2018 OECD FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index.

In the last decade, Costa Rica has made advances in digital inclusion. Internet users represented more than 74% of the population in 2018, with further increases in the previous year. In 2018, active mobile broadband subscriptions stood at 100.9 per 100 people and fixed broadband subscriptions at 16.6 per 100 inhabitants. These figures were above the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) averages (73.5 and 13.9, respectively). Performance in the E-Government Index, a measure of national administrations’ willingness and capacity to use information and communications technology (ICT), also improved. The country remains behind in open government data policies, performing below the region and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) averages in the OECD OURdata Index.

In the last decade, the Dominican Republic has made efforts to enhance digital access and use for all. Internet users, active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased. The country is also making progress in strengthening trust in the digital ecosystem. Performance in the Global Cybersecurity Index is in line with the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) average (0.43) but below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average (0.79).

In the last decade, Ecuador has made efforts to enhance digital access and use for all. The share of Internet users as well as active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions have considerably increased in during this period. In particular, active mobile broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) increased from 8.8 in 2008 to 54.7 in 2018 but remained below the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) average (73.5) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average (103.6). Perceived e-commerce safety and trust in online privacy are above LAC and OECD averages.

El Salvador continues to progress in enhancing digital access and use for all, but a digital gap remains. Despite improvements, active mobile broadband subscriptions in 2018 were below Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) averages, while Internet users represented 33.8% of the population, compared with 62.9% in LAC and 83.4% in the OECD in 2017. More progress is needed in enhancing trust in the digital ecosystem. In particular, trust in online privacy and the Global Cybersecutiry Index are below LAC and OECD averages.

Guatemala continues to progress in enhancing digital access and use for all. The share of Internet users increased from 8.3% in 2008 to 65.0% in 2018, which is above the current Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) average (62.9%). Active mobile broadband subscriptions also increased but are below the LAC and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) averages. The country has made progress in enhancing trust in the digital ecosystem, as seen by improvement in perceived trust in online privacy and in the Global Cybersecurity Index. In particular, the Global Cybersecurity Index increased from 0.21 in 2016 to 0.25 in 2018, but remains below LAC (0.43) and OECD (0.79) averages.

Mexico continues to outperform Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in terms of shaping an inclusive digital economy and society. The country has made efforts to enhance digital access and use for all. Internet users, active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased in the last decade. Mexico rose in the E-Government Development Index from 0.59 in 2008 to 0.68 in 2018, which is above the LAC average and below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average.

Panama aims to shape an inclusive digital economy and stronger, more transparent administration with the use of digital tools. The country has made efforts to enhance digital access and use for all. Internet users, active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased in the last decade although regional, gender and age disparities remain a challenge. Panama rose in the E-Government Development Index from 0.47 in 2008 to 0.61 in 2018, which is below the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) average (0.65). The index measures national administrations’ willingness and capacity to use information and communications technology (ICT) to deliver public services. The UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index shows that the economy, despite being a regional hub, is slightly below the LAC average for online shopping.

Paraguay continues to improve in terms of shaping an inclusive digital economy and society. The country has made efforts to enhance digital access for all. Internet users, active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased in the last decade. Paraguay rose in the E-Government Development Index from 0.47 in 2008 to 0.53 in 2018, which is below the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) average (0.65) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average (0.82). The index measures national administrations’ willingness and capacity to use information and communications technology (ICT) to deliver public services.

Peru has made efforts to enhance digital access and use for all. Internet users, active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased in the last decade. Peru rose in the E-Government Development Index from 0.53 in 2008 to 0.65 in 2018, which is in line with the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) average (0.65) and below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average (0.82).

Uruguay continues to stand out in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in terms of shaping an inclusive digital economy and society. The country has made considerable efforts to enhance digital access and use for all. Internet users, active mobile broadband and fixed broadband subscriptions increased in the last decade. Uruguay rose in the E-Government Development Index from 0.56 in 2008 to 0.79 in 2018, which is above the LAC average (0.65) but below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average (0.82). The UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index shows that the economy’s support for online shopping is still above the LAC average. This positive result is partly attributed to the development of digital banking in the country.