Global Advances and Hurdles in Digital Public Infrastructure: IIPP Insights

Published Date : 11/7/2025 

The Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) at University College London (UCL) has released a comprehensive report on the state of digital public infrastructure (DPI) globally, highlighting uneven progress and the need for responsible deployment. 

The Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) at University College London (UCL) has published the 2025 State of Digital Public Infrastructure Report, which provides a detailed analysis of the global progress and challenges in digital public infrastructure (DPI). The report, which analyzed 210 countries, is part of the DPI Map project, aimed at tracking the prevalence and maturity of DPI systems worldwide.

The report finds that there is growing consensus around the definition, functions, and attributes of DPI, with an increasing number of countries implementing digital ID, digital payments, and data exchange systems. As of 2025, at least 64 countries have DPI-like digital ID systems, 97 countries have DPI-like digital payment systems, and 103 countries have DPI-like data exchange systems. This consensus is crucial for providing a widely accepted framework as DPI continues to mature.

Europe leads in the development of mature and high-alignment DPI systems, supported by robust regional frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services (eIDAS). Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, on the other hand, show dynamic growth, with many systems either in pilot or planned stages. While some systems in these regions exhibit less consistent alignment with DPI attributes, high-alignment examples like Peru and Tanzania are notable.

The implementation of DPI is highly uneven, with identifiable maturity clusters and income-level patterns shaping the deployment. Higher-income countries tend to have the highest number of implemented systems. The report also emphasizes the importance of interoperability and adoption, suggesting that the design of DPI components and their real-world application are interdependent.

One major finding is the inadequacy in gauging the efficacy of DPI. Currently, different methods and approaches exist for measuring DPI performance, often relying on assumptions through proxies, which can lead to an incomplete perspective of real-world performance. The report proposes that countries need to move beyond just the availability of technology to scale DPI responsibly. This means that deploying and assessing DPI outcomes should focus on their impact in day-to-day transactions, not just on the factors that exist. Governance, inclusion, and real-world interoperability are as critical as technical deployment.

In a related reflection, a Tech Policy perspective argues that countries should build DPI that is democratic and inclusive, rather than technical and state-centric. The authors critique the current state of DPI, describing it as too technocratic and productized, and insist that DPI must be used as a tool for public empowerment. Aligning with frameworks like the UNDP’s DPI Safeguards Initiative can help achieve this goal. They also highlight the relationship between DPI and digital sovereignty, advocating for a shift from rigid notions of sovereignty to more practical concepts like 'relational sovereignty' and 'strategic autonomy.' DPI should be designed and implemented in a way that expands public power and does not tighten state control.

Overall, the report underscores the importance of responsible and inclusive deployment of DPI to ensure that it benefits all segments of society and enhances public services. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is digital public infrastructure (DPI)?

A: Digital public infrastructure (DPI) refers to the digital systems and platforms that governments and organizations use to provide essential services and facilitate transactions, such as digital ID systems, digital payment systems, and data exchange platforms.

Q: What are the key findings of the 2025 State of Digital Public Infrastructure Report?

A: The report finds that there is growing consensus around the definition and attributes of DPI, with varying levels of implementation across different regions. Europe leads in mature systems, while other regions show dynamic growth. The report also highlights the need for responsible and inclusive deployment of DPI.

Q: Why is interoperability important in DPI?

A: Interoperability is crucial in DPI because it ensures that different digital systems can work together seamlessly, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of public services. It also supports the real-world application of DPI components.

Q: What are the challenges in measuring the efficacy of DPI?

A: The challenges in measuring the efficacy of DPI include the use of different methods and approaches, often relying on assumptions through proxies. This can lead to an incomplete perspective of real-world performance, highlighting the need for more comprehensive and standardized measurement methods.

Q: What is the Tech Policy perspective on DPI?

A: The Tech Policy perspective argues that DPI should be democratic and inclusive, focusing on public empowerment rather than being technocratic and state-centric. It advocates for aligning with frameworks like the UNDP’s DPI Safeguards Initiative to achieve this goal. 

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