Business Licenses to Marriage Certificates: These are the Most Frequently Accessed Online Public Services

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) details the types of public services implemented online (e-government) in the 193 member states of the United Nations.

First is business registration, implemented in 177 UN member states. This represents a 9% increase from 162 countries in 2020.

Second is business licensing, implemented in 167 countries. This is an 11% increase from 151 countries in 2020.

Third is government job posting registration, implemented in 160 countries. This shows a slight 3% increase from 156 countries in 2020.

This data is compiled from the E-Government Development Index (EGDI) survey, which measures the effectiveness of e-government in delivering public services at the national level.

The UN DESA states that the 2022 research not only assesses the availability of registered services but also the level of digitalization for users. They evaluate whether users can complete transactions digitally.

The assessment focuses on government job applications, business registration and licensing, social protection programs, environmental and building permits, land registration, personal identification cards, driver's licenses, and birth, marriage, and death certificates.

"Findings show that most countries use their portals to provide information, and the service delivery process has been partially digitized, but citizens sometimes still need to come in person to complete most transactions," UN DESA wrote in its report.

Nevertheless, UN DESA notes a push towards higher levels of digitalization where users no longer have to download or print forms but can complete their transactions entirely online.

The following public services were most widely implemented online in the 193 UN member states in 2022:

* Business registration: 177 countries
* Business licensing: 167 countries
* Government job posting registration: 160 countries
* Birth certificate registration: 156 countries
* Online corporate tax data: 153 countries
* Death certificate registration: 152 countries
* Income tax filing: 151 countries
* Personal identification card registration: 150 countries
* Marriage certificate registration: 149 countries
* Utility bill payment (electricity/gas): 149 countries

(See also: Denmark, the country with the best electronic government system in the world in 2022)