For France, there are no figures on electronic identification: it remains confidential.
The gaps are glaring in Eurostat’s presentation of progress indicators toward the goals of the “Digital Decade.”
By the end of 2022, the EU formalized these objectives—and the accompanying action plan—across four pillars: infrastructure, skills, digitalization of businesses, and digitization of public services. It aims to achieve them by 2030.
Among the targets, 80% of citizens aged 16 to 74 should use electronic identification (eID). Eurostat analyzes this across several dimensions, notably distinguishing access to public services from those offered by the private sector.
France is the only EU member state without 2023 figures. It does, however, have 2025 figures. Result: nearly 88% of 16- to 74-year-olds used the eID in the past 12 months to access online services (84% for public services; 59% for private sector services).
France’s standing in the EU on basic digital skills
In parallel with the ideal trajectories for achieving the programme’s goals, the EU makes projections based on historical data. They do not all meet the ambitions. For example, regarding the spread of “elementary” digital skills among the population. The main components include:
- Finding and verifying information
- Communication and collaboration (email, audio/video calls, instant messaging, social networks…)
- Content creation (word processing, spreadsheets, multimedia editing)
- Managing personal data (cookies, location sharing, online visibility…)
- Problem solving (downloading and configuring software, checking accounts, job searching…)
In 2023, the rate at which France acquired these “elementary” skills reached 60% (64% for men, 57% for women). This was slightly higher than the EU average (56%; 57% of men and 54% of women).
According to data from 2015 to 2023, the EU would reach 60% by 2030, far from its 80% target.
20 million ICT specialists: the EU is straying from the target
Another objective that, at this pace, might not be met is 20 million 16- to 74-year-olds employed as ICT specialists. Even though the definition is broad, based on the ISCO-08 classification.
In 2024, France stood at 1.4 million (80% men), or 4.8% of its jobs. The EU stood at 10.3 million (same share of men), or about 5% of jobs. The highest feminization rates — between 25% and 30% — are in Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Latvia.
Projections from 2011-2024 suggest 12.4 million ICT specialists by 2030.
France making real headway on the “gigabit” objective
Things are more advanced for the share of households covered by gigabit connectivity. In France, in 2024, fixed-broadband subscriptions reaching this speed stood at 59%, compared with 22% in the EU. FTTP coverage (FTTH + FTTB) was around 87% in France and 70% in the EU.
Based on 2019-2024 data, the EU’s gigabit connectivity rate would reach 95% by 2030, approaching the 100% target.
The same objective was set for the share of populated areas covered by at least one 5G network. That target would indeed be reached (France and the EU were already above 94% in 2024).
For unicorns, a look back to 1991
Some indicators have an absolute value. The EU aims, for example, for 10,000 edge computing nodes with latency of 20 ms or less. It might reach them, judging by the progress observed from 2022 to 2024 (that year France counted 532; the EU, 2,257).
Another absolute target: having one operational computer or quantum computer. This was achieved in 2024. The EU projects, at the current pace, five machines by 2030.
This could be more realistic regarding unicorns. The EU defines unicorns as firms founded after December 31, 1990 that have had an IPO or a sale exceeding $1 billion, or those valued above $1 billion at their last private VC funding round. In 2023, France counted 48. The EU had 286. It is on track to reach 412 (with an objective of 500) if the 2008-2024 trend continues.
Cloud, AI, analytics: three routes to one objective
The outlook is likewise uncertain for the target of 75% of firms using cloud, AI, or data analytics. France targets a lower bar, aiming for 65%. It stood at 44.9% in 2023.
By “using the cloud,” we mean at least one service among financial/accounting software, ERP, CRM, security solutions, database hosting, and development, testing or deployment environments for applications. In 2023, France stood at 23%.
Based on 2014-2023 data, 64% of EU companies would meet the target by 2030.
The category “AI” includes text mining, speech recognition, natural language generation, image processing, machine learning for data analysis, process automation and robotic systems. In 2024, France was at 10%, versus 13.5% for the EU.
Based on 2021-2024 data, EU penetration would reach 36% by 2030.
The data analytics aspect replaced big data, initially included in the targets. In 2023, it was present in 34% of French companies.
According to 2016-2023 data, it would be present in 50% of EU companies by 2030.
So far, public sector data remain among the least exploited sources. They are used by 6% of firms practicing data analytics, while 21% rely on transaction data and 14% on customer data.
SME digitalization: France lags on several fronts
The EU also set a goal of 90% of SMEs (10–249 employees) achieving a minimum level of digital intensity—that is, using at least 4 of the 12 technologies (as discussed in our article on this). In 2024, France recorded 68.5%, versus 73% for the EU. The latter would still miss its target, according to projections based on 2021–2024 data.
A few figures on SME digitalization:
- ERP usage: 46% in France, 42% in the EU (2023)
- Use of at least two “social media” platforms (social networks, microblogs, wikis, etc.): 28% in France, 31% in the EU (2023)
- Use of the above cloud services: 22% in France, 38% in the EU (2023)
- Adoption of AI as defined: 9% in France, 13% in the EU (2024)
- Use of electronic invoicing: 30% in France, 39% in the EU (2024)
Administrative procedures, less digitized than EU-wide averages
Reaching the target of 100% of administrative procedures available online seems difficult, but the EU appears capable of approaching it. This applies to both those tied to “major life events” (family, career, education, health, transport, relocation, resolution of small disputes) and those related to starting and running a business.
For the former, France stood at 71% in 2024. The EU stood at 82% and could, based on 2013–2024 data, reach 92% by 2030.
For the latter, France stood at 77%. The EU, at 86%, with a dynamic that could allow reaching 93% (based on the 2013–2024 history).
