In recent years, electronic identity (eID) systems have become a critical component of today’s increasingly digitalised societies (European Commission, 2025a). The Nordic and Baltic societies have experienced a particularly pronounced digital transformation of the public sector, with several public and financial services now requiring use of eID, including bank transfers, online shopping and interactions with the public sector (Motzfeldt et al., 2024). The uptake of eIDs has been especially high in the Nordic countries, with 90 to 98% of the population using eIDs in 2023-2024. In contrast, an average of 67.4% of the eligible population uses eIDs in the remaining European Union countries with available data (Signicat, n.d.). Through verifiable digital credentials, eIDs provide individuals with secure access to public and economic services. However, this increased reliance on eIDs also carries the risk of certain societal groups being excluded from accessing key services and practices, potentially hindering their civic and democratic engagement. Those most at risk of exclusion are individuals who lack access to the necessary physical resources and knowledge due to socioeconomic, physical, age-related and health-related factors. At present, there is limited evidence and scholarly focus on how eIDs can be rolled out in an inclusive manner, especially in geographically remote regions.
Accordingly, this report takes its empirical points of departure in the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland, the three Nordic autonomous societies. This study aims to understand the eID landscape in these three societies, the barriers they face and the solutions they are adopting as they integrate various eID systems. The role of their relationships with Denmark and Finland respectively will be explored further in this context.
The report is structured as follows: Chapter 2 outlines the digital transformation of the public sector in the Nordic countries, including the importance of eIDs. It also describes barriers to inclusive digital transformations identified in the relevant literature, as well as the role of universal design. Chapter 3 presents the empirical contexts of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland, along with methodological considerations behind the report. Chapter 4 introduces the findings of the report, followed by a discussion of these findings in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 concludes the report and provides an overview of the key lessons learnt.