The United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau) has published a new white paper, Digital Maturity and Sustainability: Unpacking the Interrelationships between the Global Digitalization Index and Human Development. The study explores how digital transformation and sustainable development — two defining global trends — intersect to shape social, economic, and environmental outcomes worldwide.
The research introduces the Global Digitalization Index (GDI) as a framework for assessing national digital maturity and examines its relationship with key indicators of sustainable development, including human development, governance, wellbeing, and environmental quality. Findings reveal that countries with higher levels of digital maturity tend to demonstrate stronger progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring the importance of governance, inclusivity, and equity as critical enablers of digital sustainability.
Digital maturity is not only about economic growth — it is about building resilient, inclusive societies. Our findings provide policymakers with evidence-based insights to balance innovation with human development and sustainability.
The white paper highlights that while digital advancement is strongly associated with social investment and effective governance, weaker connections remain with inclusivity, political participation, peace, and environmental quality. This points to the need for targeted strategies that ensure equitable access to digital technologies, address risks, and prioritize human rights.
The study was authored by Dr. Jaimee Stuart, Senior Researcher and Team Lead at the United Nations University Institute in Macau, Dr. Preeti Raghunath, Lecturer in Digital Media and Society at the University of Sheffield, and Dr. Daniele Guariso, Senior Research Associate in the Public Policy Programme at the Alan Turing Institute, with valuable support from Huawei, which provided critical data for analysis.
Please direct inquiries to: Dr. Jaimee Stuart, Senior Researcher and Team Lead at the United Nations University Institute in Macau, stuart@unu.edu
Read the full white paper: Digital Maturity and Sustainability: Unpacking the Interrelationships between the Global Digitalization Index and Human Development
