People Who Take Part in Online Voting or Civic Consultations by Country – 2026
How do citizens engage with their governments in the digital age? Online voting and civic consultations—where citizens vote or provide input on policy decisions through internet platforms—represent a fundamental shift in how democracies function. This analysis examines online voting and civic consultation participation across 68 countries, revealing how digital tools are transforming political engagement and creating new opportunities for citizens to influence policy decisions and participate in democratic processes.
Online voting and civic consultation measures the percentage of people who take part in consultation or voting via internet to define civic or political issues. A participation rate of 20% means 20 out of 100 people use internet platforms to vote on policy decisions or participate in online consultations, while 80 do not participate online. This metric captures how populations embrace digital tools for direct democratic participation and political voice. Online voting and civic consultations encompass specific activities: voting in online referendums or policy consultations, participating in digital consultations about government decisions, and voting in online surveys about civic issues. These activities enable citizens to participate in democratic processes without geographic constraints, increase accessibility for people with mobility limitations, and create permanent records of citizen input that governments can reference when making decisions. This differs from broader civic engagement like social media activism or petition signing. Several countries show exceptionally high online voting and civic consultation participation rates, indicating populations that have embraced digital tools for direct democratic participation. United Arab Emirates leads with 61.6% (2023), followed by Malaysia (42.7%) and Bahrain (42.0%). These nations combine robust digital infrastructure, government investment in online voting and consultation platforms, and populations comfortable using internet tools for civic decision-making. Hungary (30.0%), Estonia (26.6%), and Iceland (25.2%) demonstrate strong digital voting cultures in developed democracies. Estonia's high participation reflects its advanced e-governance system where citizens can vote online and participate in digital consultations about policy. These countries have invested heavily in digital infrastructure and created user-friendly platforms that encourage citizen participation in online voting and consultations. Many countries show growing online voting and civic consultation participation, driven by government initiatives to digitize democratic processes and younger populations comfortable with internet-based decision-making. Albania (18.9%), Switzerland (18.7%), and Finland (15.0%) show strong participation rates reflecting both digital infrastructure and political cultures that value citizen input through online channels. Developing nations increasingly recognize online voting and consultations as tools for expanding democratic participation. Countries like Morocco (9.7%), Brazil (7.9%), and Chile (10.0%) show growing adoption of digital voting and consultation platforms, though participation remains lower than developed nations due to digital divides and limited government investment in online voting infrastructure. Many countries show low online voting and civic consultation participation rates, reflecting multiple barriers to digital democratic participation. Limited internet access prevents populations from participating in online voting or consultations. Low digital literacy creates barriers even when internet access exists. Lack of government investment in online voting and consultation platforms means citizens have few opportunities to participate. Trust issues with digital voting systems discourage participation. Language barriers limit engagement for populations whose languages lack government online voting platforms. Political factors also influence participation. Authoritarian governments may restrict online voting and consultations to prevent dissent. Weak democratic institutions provide few meaningful opportunities for citizen input through online channels. Corruption or lack of transparency in how citizen input is used discourages participation. Generational differences exist, with younger populations more likely to participate in online voting while older demographics prefer traditional voting methods. Online voting and civic consultations create new forms of democratic inequality. Citizens with internet access and digital literacy can participate in online voting and consultations, while those without access are excluded from these digital democratic processes. This digital divide often correlates with existing economic and educational inequalities, potentially reinforcing existing disparities in political voice and influence. Within countries, online voting and consultation participation shows significant urban-rural divides. Urban areas with better internet infrastructure show higher participation. Younger, more educated, and wealthier populations participate more actively than older, less educated, and poorer populations. Gender differences exist in some countries, with women sometimes showing lower participation rates in societies with strong gender inequalities. High online voting and consultation participation transforms how governments operate and respond to citizen input. Digital consultations enable governments to gather feedback from larger populations more efficiently than traditional methods. Online voting increases accessibility for citizens unable to vote in person. Digital platforms create permanent records of citizen preferences that governments can reference when making policy decisions. Online voting and consultations can increase government transparency and accountability by making citizen input visible. However, online voting and consultations also create challenges. Digital platforms can amplify polarization if not carefully designed. Misinformation can spread through online voting and consultation channels. Governments may use online consultations without genuinely considering citizen input, creating cynicism about digital democracy. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities in online voting systems create risks of fraud or manipulation. The 2026 projections show continued growth in online voting and consultation participation across most countries. High-performing nations like Hungary, Malaysia, and Bahrain are projected to maintain participation rates around 30%, representing populations where online voting and consultations have become mainstream. Mid-tier countries show strong growth potential as governments invest in online voting infrastructure and digital literacy improves. Low-participation countries will likely see accelerating growth as digital access expands and younger generations become larger shares of voting populations. Emerging technologies including blockchain-based voting systems, artificial intelligence-powered consultation platforms, and mobile-first online voting solutions will likely expand online voting and consultation opportunities. Younger demographics will continue driving adoption of new digital voting methods. However, significant gaps will persist between developed and developing nations, and between connected and disconnected populations within countries. This analysis uses UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) data from ICT skills surveys across 68 countries (2011-2024). The data measures self-reported behavior among individuals aged 15-74 who take part in consultation or voting via internet to define civic or political issues. Online voting and civic consultation rate represents: (Number of people who participate in online voting or civic consultation ÷ Total surveyed population aged 15-74) × 100. For example, 25% means 25 out of 100 people participate in online voting or consultations. Our dataset includes 56 countries (82%) with current data from 2020-2024, while 12 countries (18%) have older data from 2011-2019. Of the 68 countries in the dataset, 57 had multiple historical data points suitable for linear regression analysis, while 11 countries had single data points. For 2026 projections, we applied linear regression analysis using all available historical data points for each country. Countries with single data points received projections based on growth patterns adjusted for economic development and digital infrastructure. Projections include growth dampening for high-performing countries (>15% current rate) to reflect saturation effects in online voting and consultations. Countries with older data (>5 years) received additional dampening (50% growth reduction) to account for data uncertainty. All estimates are capped at each country's historical maximum observed value to prevent unrealistic projections. For example, if a country's highest recorded participation rate was 42.7%, the 2026 projection cannot exceed 42.7%. This approach ensures projections remain grounded in observed participation patterns while allowing for modest growth in countries with lower current rates. Online voting in this context includes non-binding votes, online consultations, and digital surveys about civic issues conducted via internet platforms, not necessarily formal national elections. Survey methodologies follow UNESCO's standardized ICT skills measurement framework, though self-reported participation may not capture actual voting behavior or influence on policy outcomes.Understanding Online Voting and Civic Consultations
People Who Take Part in Online Voting or Civic Consultations by Country – 2026
1
30%
2
30%
3
30%
4
30%
5
27.3%
6
25.6%
7
25.5%
8
22%
9
18%
10
16.4%
11
14.8%
12
14.3%
13
13.7%
14
13.6%
15
13.6%
16
12.9%
17
12.9%
18
12.7%
19
12.1%
20
11.9%
21
10.7%
22
10.6%
23
10.5%
24
10.5%
25
9.5%
26
9.4%
27
9%
28
8.7%
29
8.3%
30
8.2%
31
8%
32
7.8%
33
7.4%
34
7%
35
6.9%
36
6.2%
37
6%
38
5.8%
39
5.7%
40
5.6%
41
4.9%
42
4.7%
43
4.1%
44
3.7%
45
3.7%
46
3.6%
47
3.3%
48
3%
49
2.9%
50
2.8%
51
2.6%
52
2.3%
53
2.3%
54
1.9%
55
1.8%
56
1.6%
57
1.6%
58
1.3%
59
1.1%
60
0.9%
61
0.8%
62
0.7%
63
0.5%
64
0.2%
65
0%
66
0%
67
0%
68
0%
Global Leaders in Online Voting and Consultations
Emerging Online Voting and Consultation Adoption
Barriers to Online Voting and Consultations
Digital Democracy and Social Equity
The Impact of Online Voting and Consultations on Governance
Future Trends in Online Voting and Consultations
People Who Take Part in Online Voting or Civic Consultations by Country – 2026
#
1
42.0 (2023)
30%
2
30.0 (2024)
30%
3
42.7 (2023)
30%
4
61.6 (2023)
30%
5
18.9 (2023)
27.3%
6
20.5 (2023)
25.6%
7
26.6 (2023)
25.5%
8
18.7 (2023)
22%
9
15.0 (2023)
18%
10
9.7 (2021)
16.4%
11
25.2 (2013)
14.8%
12
11.1 (2019)
14.3%
13
12.2 (2023)
13.7%
14
11.3 (2024)
13.6%
15
14.9 (2024)
13.6%
16
13.0 (2024)
12.9%
17
13.7 (2023)
12.9%
18
9.0 (2015)
12.7%
19
10.2 (2023)
12.1%
20
12.4 (2023)
11.9%
21
8.1 (2023)
10.7%
22
10.0 (2023)
10.6%
23
6.0 (2023)
10.5%
24
9.8 (2023)
10.5%
25
7.9 (2023)
9.5%
26
7.7 (2023)
9.4%
27
8.6 (2023)
9%
28
8.0 (2022)
8.7%
29
7.0 (2024)
8.3%
30
7.8 (2023)
8.2%
31
6.7 (2017)
8%
32
7.4 (2023)
7.8%
33
6.8 (2022)
7.4%
34
6.8 (2023)
7%
35
10.9 (2024)
6.9%
36
4.8 (2023)
6.2%
37
4.4 (2023)
6%
38
5.9 (2023)
5.8%
39
4.9 (2018)
5.7%
40
3.5 (2023)
5.6%
41
5.6 (2024)
4.9%
42
3.8 (2023)
4.7%
43
2.6 (2017)
4.1%
44
3.6 (2023)
3.7%
45
4.8 (2024)
3.7%
46
1.6 (2023)
3.6%
47
2.2 (2023)
3.3%
48
2.9 (2022)
3%
49
2.6 (2023)
2.9%
50
3.5 (2015)
2.8%
51
2.9 (2023)
2.6%
52
1.8 (2014)
2.3%
53
1.9 (2023)
2.3%
54
1.4 (2021)
1.9%
55
1.7 (2023)
1.8%
56
1.2 (2019)
1.6%
57
1.0 (2020)
1.6%
58
0.5 (2023)
1.3%
59
0.6 (2023)
1.1%
60
0.8 (2022)
0.9%
61
0.7 (2021)
0.8%
62
0.5 (2020)
0.7%
63
0.4 (2016)
0.5%
64
0.2 (2023)
0.2%
65
7.8 (2018)
0%
66
6.6 (2015)
0%
67
1.7 (2020)
0%
68
0.1 (2021)
0%
Methodology and Data Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does online voting and civic consultation mean and why is it important for democracy?
A: Online voting and civic consultation measures the percentage of people who vote or participate in consultations online about civic and political issues. If your country has 25%, it means 25 out of 100 people use internet platforms to vote on policy decisions or participate in online consultations while 75 do not. This matters because online voting and consultations expand democratic participation beyond traditional voting booths and town halls. They enable citizens to participate from home, increase accessibility for people with mobility limitations, and allow governments to gather feedback from larger populations. Countries with high participation like UAE (61.6%), Malaysia (42.7%), and Hungary (30.0%) have populations deeply engaged in online voting and consultations. Low-participation countries face barriers including limited internet access, low digital literacy, and insufficient government investment in online voting platforms. Online voting and consultation participation increasingly determines whose voices governments hear when making policy decisions.
Q: Why do some countries lead in online voting and consultations while others lag significantly behind?
A: Online voting and consultation participation depends on multiple interconnected factors. Government investment in online voting and consultation platforms is fundamental—countries with robust digital voting systems see higher participation. Internet infrastructure quality matters greatly since reliable connectivity enables online participation. Digital literacy and education levels correlate strongly with voting participation. Younger populations participate more readily than older demographics. Economic development generally correlates with higher participation. Political factors also matter; democracies with strong civic cultures encourage participation while authoritarian systems may restrict it. Trust in government influences participation; citizens are more likely to vote online if they believe their input will be considered. Developed nations like Estonia, Switzerland, and Finland combine excellent infrastructure, high digital literacy, and strong democratic institutions that encourage online voting and consultations. Developing countries often show lower rates due to infrastructure limitations, lower digital literacy, and limited government investment in online voting platforms, though participation is growing as digital access expands.
Data Disclaimer: Projected data (future years) are estimates based on mathematical models. Actual values may differ. Learn about our methodology →
Sources
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Updated: 25.01.2026https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/browser/EDUCATION/UIS-SDG4Monitoring/t4.4/i4.4.1
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