On March 2007, the UN statistical Commission endorsed the core list of indicators on information and communication technologies (ICT), which was developed by the UNCTAD XI Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development. A revised core list of indicators was developed in 2007-2008 and presented to the UN Statistical Commission in 2009.

What is the core list of ICT indicators?

The core list of ICT indicators is composed of 50 indicators in the following areas:

• ICT infrastructure and access (12 indicators);
• ICT access and use by households and individuals (13 indicators);
• ICT access and use by enterprises (12 indicators);
• ICT sector and trade in ICT goods (4 indicators);
• ICT in education (9 indicators).

How was the core list of ICT indicators developed?

The core list of ICT indicators was the outcome of an intensive consultation process by the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, which involved NSOs worldwide. The indicators are based on internationally agreed standards (especially those developed by ITU, OECD and Eurostat).

The original core list of ICT indicators was agreed at the WSIS Thematic Meeting on Measuring the Information Society (Geneva, 7-9 February 2005), which was attended by 270 delegates from 85 countries (National Statistical Offices, Telecommunication Regulatory Agencies and Ministries, and Ministries related to information society activities), intergovernmental organizations, NGOs and civil society. The core list was officially presented during an event at WSIS Tunis (November 2005).

The development of ICT indicators is a continuous process, and the list will undergo periodic review. As countries gain experience in the collection of ICT data, and as policy needs evolve, indicators may be modified, removed or added.

As a result of the Partnership's 2008 Global Event on Measuring the Information Society, revisions and additions to the core list of ICT indicators were submitted for comments by all countries. The most important addition is a set of ICT in education indicators.

The revisions and additions to the core list of ICT indicators are being presented at the 40th session of the UN Statiscal Commission.

How is the core list of ICT indicators disseminated?

The list is recommended by the Partnership as a basis for the collection of ICT statistics that could be comparable at the international level. The Partnership background paper presented at the UNSC provides definitions for the core list of indicators.

The core list has been adopted by UNCTAD for its collection of data on ICT use in businesses and the ICT sector and by ITU for its collection of data on access to and use of ICT by households and individuals. The core list represents a subset of ICT indicators collected by Eurostat and OECD from their Member States. Some of the UN regional commissions have endorsed the core list of ICT indicators and have recommended its adoption by their member countries.

A number of countries have already integrated the core list of ICT indicators into their existing household and business surveys. Members of the Partnership are providing assistance in this process.