Use of information and communications technology by individuals: documentation of statistics

The statistics describe the use of information and communications technology by individuals. The data concerning the use of the Internet describe the prevalence and frequency of use, as well as the different purposes of use, such as electronic commerce, communications, and the following of media. The statistics also include data on households’ Internet connections and ICT hardware. The content of the statistics consists of national data and EU-harmonised data, collected in all EU Member States and some other European countries. 

The data of the statistics are collected once a year with a web questionnaire and interviews based on a population sample.

The statistics comprise two statistical populations: the population aged 16 to 89 permanently residing in the country and households with at least one individual aged 16 to 89.

The statistical units in the statistics on the use of information and communications technology by individuals are an individual and a household.

The statistics’ units of measure are the percentage and number of individuals, as well as the percentage and number of households.

The most common reference period for the statistics is the three months preceding the data collection. The reference period for some variables is the 12 months preceding the data collection.

The reference area for the statistics on the use of information and communications technology by individuals is the whole of Finland.
The regional classifications used:
NUTS2. 
Grouping of municipalities: the Greater Helsinki area, big cities, other urban municipalities, semi-urban/rural municipalities 

The statistics cover the entire population aged 16 to 89 residing in Finland.

Data on the use of information and communications technology, as well as the Internet, by individuals have been collected by a separate survey since 1996. The survey has been conducted annually since 2004. The possibility to prepare time series varies by question due to a change in the survey’s content. Time series on the basic data can be prepared no later than from 2004 onwards. 

The data released on the statistics are always final.

The data of the statistics on the use of information and communications technology by individuals are collected and released on an annual basis. The material concerning a single year is published in several releases covering different content areas.

The accuracy of data collected with a sample survey is affected by measurement errors, non-response and the random variation attributable to the sample. Measurement errors may arise if questions can be understood and interpreted in different ways or if the respondents do not give the requested information. The means by which measurement errors are reduced are the careful planning of the questionnaire forms, testing the form and interviewer training.

The survey’s non-response is classified into unit non-response and item non-response or partial non-response. Unit non-response means that target persons cannot be interviewed at all because they cannot be reached or refuse to be interviewed. Weighting coefficients can be used to correct unit non-response. Item non-response refers to question-specific non-response. In such cases an interview has been conducted but data are missing in certain questions because the interview was interrupted or the interviewee refused to respond.
Standard errors
Variable: Has used the Internet in the past 3 months, 2023
n: 2,998     participation rate: 93,52 %    standard error: 0,40

Variable: Has made an online purchase in the past 3 months 2023
n: 1,798     participation rate: 58,54 %     standard error: 0,90

The data of the statistics are released in November of the statistical year, i.e. approximately seven months from the end of the reference period.

 

In 2023, the new data of the statistics on the use of information and communications technology by individuals were released four weeks later than scheduled.

Content-wise, the data concerning Finland in the statistics are geographically comparable. Comparisons can be done within the framework set by the scope of the data.

The use of information and communications technology, as well as the Internet, is a rapidly changing phenomenon. Changes also take place in the need for data pertaining to it. Due to these reasons, the content of the statistics’ data collection has changed from one year to the next, limiting comparability over time.

The change in the phenomenon has also resulted in changes to the definitions of some of the collected data. Because of this, not all data from different years are entirely comparable. 
 
The possibility for preparing time series varies by question. Time series on all basic data can be prepared no later than as of 2004.

The data collection of the statistics has been subject to changes in the 2010s. In 2016, the collection shifted from telephone interviews to a mixed-mode data collection (phone interview/online questionnaire). In 2019, 2020 and 2021, the telephone interviews were outsourced. These factors may have an impact on the comparability of the results with regard to previous years and some variables.

Other statistics do not collect equally detailed data on the use of information and communications technology and the Internet by individuals.

The starting point for the design of the EU questions on the data collection form is the model questionnaire appended to the implementing regulation and designed in the working groups of Eurostat, the Commission and Member States. The EU questions are adapted to be suitable to national conditions and data collection. A group of experts, composed of the data users and experts of Statistics Finland, are heard in the design of the national questions. The formulation of the questions and the functionality of the form are tested annually. The questionnaire has also been subject to cognitive testing. Approximately a third of the content of the data collection changes annually. On the one hand, the change is due to a rotation of the questions and, on the other hand, due to new data to be collected.

The data for the statistics are collected as a sample survey. The sample is based on random sampling made from the Population Information System. In 2023, the gross sample was 6,500 individuals and the response rate was 50 per cent. Calculated from the entire sample, the response rate of the online questionnaire was 36,7 per cent and that of the telephone interview correspondingly 13,6 per cent. The size of the data was 3,259 individuals. The share of online questionnaire of the data was 73 per cent and share of telephone interviews 27 per cent.  

The data are weighted to correspond to the population and households in the entire country, accounting for non-response. In individual weighting, the numbers of both respondents and the population are tabulated according to sex, age, level of education, native language, region and the statistical grouping of municipalities.

The data in the statistics are collected with a mixed-mode data collection method in which respondents can select between a telephone interview and an online questionnaire. The survey’s EU-harmonised questions are designed in the working groups of Eurostat, some directorates-general of the Commission and national statistical agencies. The national questions are designed with the help of a group of experts composed of the data users.

The data are collected annually.

The data are weighted to correspond to the population and households in the entire country, accounting for non-response. In individual weighting, the numbers of both respondents and the population are tabulated according to sex, age, level of education, native language, region and the statistical grouping of municipalities.

The data of the statistics are validated in many stages during the statistical process. During the processing of the data, the high quality of the data is ensured through various statistical verification programs as well as by comparing the data with previous comparable statistics and other data sources. Following the data collection, the data are checked. Incomplete responses and other invalid observations are removed.

Statistics Finland

Social Statistics

The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.

Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.

Further information: Statistical legislation

The collection of EU-harmonised data for the statistics is mandatory in EU Member States. Until the 2020 survey, the collection of the data was subject to the multiannual EU framework Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 of the European Parliament and the Council concerning Community statistics on the information society and the implementing regulations laid down for each year’s survey. As of the 2021 survey, the data collection is steered by the framework Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, as well as the implementing and delegated regulations laid down annually.

European Comission has financed the survey.

The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed in accordance with the requirements of the Statistics Act (280/2004), the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act (1050/2018). The data materials are protected at all stages of processing with the necessary physical and technical solutions. Statistics Finland has compiled detailed directions and instructions for confidential processing of the data. Employees have access only to the data essential for their duties. The premises where unit-level data are processed are not accessible to outsiders. Members of the personnel have signed a pledge of secrecy upon entering the service. Violation of data protection is punishable.

Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi

Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data are public after they have been updated in the web service.

Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland

Of the statistics’ data, the percentage and number are released on the website of Statistics Finland some five months after the data collection has ended.

The source data for the EU-harmonised data (the EU ICT-HH data) are delivered to Eurostat at the beginning of October. In December, Eurostat releases data on European countries in various manners and makes the survey’s microdata available for researchers in accordance with its own.

Statistical data are published as database tables in the StatFin database. The database is the primary publishing site of data, and new data are updated first there. When releasing statistical data, existing database tables can be updated with new data or completely new database tables can be published.

In addition to statistical data published in the StatFin database, a release on the key data is usually published in the web service. If the release contains data concerning several reference periods (e.g. monthly and annual data), a review bringing together these data is published in the web service. Database tables updated at the time of publication are listed both in the release and in the review. In some cases, statistical data can also be published as mere database releases in the StatFin database. No release or review is published in connection with these database releases.

Releases and database tables are published in three languages, in Finnish, Swedish and English. The language versions of releases may have more limited content than in Finnish.

Information about changes in the publication schedules of releases and database tables and about corrections are given as change releases in the web service.

Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.

The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.

Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.

The quality of the population's use of information and communication technology statistics is evaluated in several different stages of the statistical process.

Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The quality management framework of the field of statistics is the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP). The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.

Further information: Quality management | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)

Data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may only be handled at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.

Further information: Publication principles for statistics

Unless otherwise separately stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer of the data and the owner of the copyright. The terms of use for statistical data.