Digital illiteracy affects 17% of French people

The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) conducted an annual survey related to information and communication technologies at the household level. Results: Digital illiteracy affects an average of 17% of French people.

At a time when the Internet seems omnipresent in our daily lives, the latest survey published by INSEE on information technologies and communication to households shows that digital illiteracy, or "illectronism", still affects the part of the French population. But before going into the details, let's define the term "illectronism".

One in four people do not know how to find out

To do this, the French Institute has a small definition: "  refers to not having basic digital skills (sending e-mails, consulting online accounts, using the software, etc.) or not using the Internet (incapacity or material impossibility)  ", quite simply. To know now what percentage of citizens tricolor is concerned.

In all, 17% (16.5 more precisely) of the population belongs to this category, when "  38% of users lack at least a basic numerical skill, and 2% are devoid of any competence  ", can we read. More specifically, "  one in four people do not know how to get information and one in five is unable to communicate via the Internet  ". Surprisingly, in 2019, "  15% of people aged 15 and over did not use the Internet during the year  ".

Internet is democratizing among the elderly

On the other hand, we note an increase in the daily use of the Internet between 2009 and 2019: 47% ten years ago, compared to 71% today. For people aged 75 and over, the practice is becoming more democratic: 5 to 19% between 2009 and 2019. Although the majority of them (64%) do not connect during the year when others (53%) do not even have access to it.


Another key point is the percentage of French people unable to obtain information on the Internet, which is 24%. More generally, INSEE focuses on the reasons for the lack of equipment at home: the lack of competence is the main one (41%), followed by the cost of equipment (32%) or subscription (27%). %) and the absence of broadband offer (5%).

Source: INSEE