Almost four in ten Belgians aged 16 to 74 remain digitally vulnerable, despite internet access becoming almost universal. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining ground: 42% of Belgians aged 16 to 89 say they used an AI application in the previous three months.
The figures come from the 2026 Digital Inclusion Barometer, published by the King Baudouin Foundation as part of Digital Week, which runs from 6 to 16 October 2026. The fourth edition of the barometer is based on 2025 data from Statbel and was compiled by researchers from Ghent University and.UCLouvain in Louvain-la-Neuve.
Internet access is almost universal
Some progress has been made since the previous edition in 2023, but the overall picture has changed little. In 2025, 95% of Belgian households had an internet connection at home, while just 4% of people aged 16 to 74 did not use the internet.
The figures are significantly higher among older people. Among 75- to 89-year-olds, 34% do not use the internet.
Overall, 39% of people aged 16 to 74 were considered digitally vulnerable in 2025. This includes the 4% of 16- to 74-year-olds who did not use the internet and 35% who had limited digital skills. The figure was 40% in 2023, meaning that digital vulnerability in this age group has fallen by just one percentage point.
Digital vulnerability is particularly pronounced among certain groups. It affects 67% of people aged 16 to 74 with a low level of education, 48% of people aged 16 to 74 on low incomes and 47% of people aged 16 to 74 from outside the European Union. The figure reaches 56% among 16- to 74-year-olds who report health problems or a disability and 41% among jobseekers aged 16 to 74.
Among 75- to 89-year-olds, as many as 81% are digitally vulnerable.
Digital skills remain a major barrier
Having an internet connection does not necessarily mean people can use essential online services independently. The barometer highlights significant differences in the use of online banking, e-government, e-health and e-commerce among internet users aged 16 to 74.
Among 16- to 74-year-old internet users with a low level of education, 36% do not use online government services. The way people access the internet also matters: 38% of 16- to 74-year-old users who go online only via a smartphone do not use online government services, compared with 12% of those aged 16 to 74 who use several devices.
Help from other people remains important. Almost three in ten (28%) internet users aged 16 to 74 rely on someone else to help them complete administrative procedures online. This rises to 40% among 16- to 74-year-olds with a low level of education and 36% among 16- to 74-year-olds with limited digital skills.
Online safety and problem-solving are among the weakest areas. More than a quarter (27%) of internet users aged 16 to 74 have no digital skills relating to online safety.
Even among younger users, there are gaps: one in five 16- to 24-year-olds has no skills in this area.
AI use is spreading rapidly
While traditional digital skills remain a problem, AI is already becoming widely used. Overall, 42% of people aged 16 to 89 said they had used an AI application during the previous three months.
There is a substantial age gap. AI use reaches 75% among 16- to 24-year-olds, but falls to just 8% among 75- to 89-year-olds.
The researchers warn that AI could create a new form of digital inequality if people lack the skills to use the technology critically and consciously.
“AI can create new forms of digital inequality for those who are not critical or aware of how to handle the tools,” says Koen Ponnet of Ghent University.
Many non-users feel excluded
The digital divide is also reflected in people’s sense of social inclusion. Among people aged 16 to 89 who do not use the internet, 56% say they feel strongly or very strongly excluded because they are not online.
This rises to 75% among non-internet users aged 75 to 89 and 62% among non-internet users on low incomes.
The cost of being connected can also be significant. Households on low incomes spend an average of €617 a year on internet access, despite having substantially less income than wealthier households. Single-parent households spend an average of €841 a year, although all households in this group have an internet connection.
Digital inequality is changing
The King Baudouin Foundation says the findings show that digital inequality has not disappeared but is changing.
“Today, it is less about access to digital technology and more about the quality of that access and how people can utilise it,” the foundation says.
As more essential services move online, including government services, healthcare, employment and housing, the report calls for a broader approach to digital inclusion. This includes accessible online services, continued investment in digital skills and support for people who need help, alongside fully fledged offline alternatives.
The Digital Inclusion Barometer has tracked digital inequality in Belgium since 2020, providing data for policymakers and organisations working on digital inclusion.
