According to the United Nations E-Government Survey for 2022, the number of people living in cities is increasing, with urban populations projected to reach 5.1 billion, or 60% of the world's population, by 2030. The rate of urbanization is expected to be higher in Africa and Asia. As urban expansion continues, it is important to have strong e-government structures in place to meet the growing demand for public services. Urban residents are more likely to use the Internet than those living in rural areas, with the gap being even greater in Africa. In the least developed countries, urban residents are almost four times as likely to use the Internet compared to rural residents. There are also internal disparities in Internet availability and use within cities and regions. Regular assessment and evaluation of government portals is one of the most effective ways to improve e-government. As more people live in cities and access the Internet from urban areas, it is essential for local government portals to accommodate larger numbers of users. A well-functioning portal can improve the quality of life in a city. The 2022 LOSI study highlights the importance of regularly assessing and evaluating government portals as a way to improve e-government. Technology integration provides opportunities for cities to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and progress in this area is accelerating, with many innovative solutions developed and implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methodology
The methodology of the LOSI (Local Online Service Index) 2022 study includes 86 indicators across five criteria: institutional framework (8), content provision (25), services provision (18), participation and engagement (17), and technology (18). The institutional framework assesses municipal e-government strategy, organizational structure, legislation on access to information and privacy, and open data policy. Content provision evaluates the availability of essential public information and resources online. Services provision focuses on the availability and delivery of targeted government services. Participation and engagement assesses the availability of mechanisms and initiatives for interaction and opportunities for public participation in local governance structures. The technology dimension examines technical features of the portals, including accessibility, functionality, reliability, ease of navigation, visual appeal, and alignment with technology standards.
Results
The 2022 LOSI study is the first to assess e-government in the most populous city in each of the 193 Member States. Madrid and Berlin take the top spot in the rankings, with almost 98 percent of the features assessed, followed by Tallinn (95%) and Copenhagen (94%). New York City, Paris, Dubai and Moscow share fifth place, with nearly 92 percent of the features assessed.
Among the 38 cities in the very high LOSI group, 20 are located in Europe, 10 in Asia, 6 in the Americas, and 2 in Oceania. None of the most populated cities in African countries are ranked among the top 20.
New York, Madrid, Tallinn, Moscow, and Paris have consistently ranked in the top 10 in the 2018, 2020, and 2022 editions, affirming the consistency of the LOSI methodology for the assessed cities over the years.
/ Based on United Nations E-Government Survey 2022 /
themes: New York City New York (state) Germany France
