Uruguay is making significant progress as a regional leader in digital governance

Uruguay improved its leadership in countries with very high digital development in the Americas, with a score that places it only below the United States and ahead of Canada.

According to the thirteenth edition of the United Nations Digital Government Survey (E-government survey) published every two years, the country climbed from 35th to 25th place.

Uruguay’s score increase is based on the growth of the dimensions “Online Services,” which went from 0.7641 to 0.8832 points, and “Telecommunications Infrastructure,” which increased from 0.8543 to 0.9437 points.

It also highlights its growth in the sub-index “Digital Citizen Participation,” which evolved from 0.5909 to 0.8630 points, placing the country in 22nd place globally.

The report, which can be read here, especially highlights the initiatives led by the Uruguayan Agency of Electronic Government and Information and Knowledge Society (Agesic) and framed in the Uruguay Digital Agenda 2025. These initiatives, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, are focused on transforming public services to offer efficient and personalized services and improving the interaction between citizens and the State by implementing a standardized and multichannel service model.

In addition, it highlights the solution for validating cross-border digital signatures created by Uruguay, firma.gub.uy, and offered by various providers registered with the Electronic Certification Unit (UCE).

This web interface was designed to make it easy for individuals and businesses to use electronic signatures. It is the first regional solution that guarantees the secure, transparent, reliable, and efficient cross-border exchange and validation of cross-border signatures. The system is currently used in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, where its legal validity is recognized.

The availability of secure cross-border digital signature options enables individuals and organizations in different countries to conduct online transactions, shorten administrative procedures, minimize transaction-related barriers, and optimize business productivity and competitiveness.

The United Nations report

The UN E-Government Survey provides an overview of digital government in all 193 member states and highlights a significant trend of progress in developing digital government worldwide, with increased investment in resilient infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies.

The recent edition is focused on “accelerating digital transformation for sustainable development” and provides countries with frameworks and recommendations for improving public services. The report is produced by the Public Institutions and Digital Government Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Regional Commissions and other UN agencies, and a number of international researchers and experts.