Young women in Cyprus significantly outperform their male counterparts in digital skills, according to a recent Eurostat report. In 2025, only 63.9 per cent of young people aged 16 to 24 in Cyprus had at least basic digital skills, a figure that falls short of the EU average of 74.6 per cent.
The report, released on Wednesday, highlights the growing importance of digital competencies in education and employment across Europe. Denmark leads the pack with an impressive 92.1 per cent of its youth possessing these skills, closely followed by the Czech Republic and Malta.
Digital skills: Gender Disparity in Digital Proficiency
Notably, Cyprus has the widest gender gap in the EU regarding digital skills. While 73.9 per cent of young women in Cyprus have at least basic digital skills, only 55.1 per cent of young men can say the same. This 18.8 percentage point difference starkly contrasts with the EU average, where the gap stands at 2.6 percentage points in favour of women.
This trend is not confined to Cyprus; across the EU, young women are outperforming young men. At the EU level, 75.9 per cent of women aged 16 to 24 possess at least basic digital skills, compared to 73.3 per cent of men.
Comparative Analysis Across the EU
In Slovenia, the second-largest gap is seen, with 73.5 per cent of young women and 61.9 per cent of men having basic digital skills—a difference of 11.6 percentage points. Austria follows with an 9.1 percentage point gap, where 82.7 per cent of women and 73.6 per cent of men are digitally proficient.
Interestingly, young men only recorded higher levels of digital skills than young women in five EU countries. Malta is one such country, where 93.6 per cent of young men have basic skills compared to 89.1 per cent of young women, reflecting a 4.6 percentage point advantage.
Implications for Future Generations
The digital skills gap raises questions about future employment and education opportunities for young men in Cyprus. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital technologies, a lack of proficiency could hinder their chances in the job market. This issue underscores the need for targeted educational programmes to address this disparity and ensure that both genders are equipped for the future.
As the EU continues to emphasise the importance of digital skills in various sectors, the findings from Cyprus serve as a wake-up call. The stark differences in digital proficiency between genders could have long-term implications for economic equality and workforce diversity.
