Empowering the Future: Girls’ Digital Content Skills in the EU

by News Editor

April 25, 2025

Girls Leading the Way in Digital Skills

In 2023, an impressive number of girls aged 16-19 in the EU showcased superior digital content creation skills compared to the general populace. This age group has become adept at various technical tasks, raising the bar in digital literacy.

With 78.6% handling file management across devices and cloud storage efficiently, and 73.4% leveraging word processing software, these young women clearly demonstrate their tech-savvy prowess. Additionally, 67.7% are creating multimedia files, while 60.8% are skilled in editing photos, video, or audio files. The mastery doesn’t stop there; 47.3% utilize spreadsheet software, with 22.4% tackling its advanced functions.

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Digital Literacy: A Closer Look

Their participation levels in creating integrated digital content elements are noteworthy, surpassing the general population by margins up to 28.5 percentage points. Notably, in activities like multimedia editing and document creation, young girls are participating at higher rates than boys.

Challenges in Coding

Despite these strides, the coding arena shows a noticeable gender disparity. Among EU youth, only 9.9% of girls have written code in a programming language, compared to 19.7% of boys. The gap persists across 24 EU countries, with Austria, Croatia, and Belgium witnessing the largest differences. Interestingly, Lithuania and Greece are outliers, reporting more girls than boys engaging in coding.

Digital content creation skills among girls in the EU

This snapshot of advancing digital literacy among young women coincides with the celebration of the International Day of Girls in ICT, highlighting the theme ‘Girls in ICT for inclusive digital transformation.’ As these trends continue, it resonates with Cyprus’s initiatives, such as UAE-supported desalination projects that underscore inclusive technological advancement.

Relevant Readings

For further insights into Cyprus’s development, check out our feature on why Larnaca is a top destination for Baby Boomers.

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Strained Household Finances: Eurostat Data Reveals Persistent Payment Delays Across Europe and in Cyprus

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 22, 2025

Improved Financial Resilience Amid Ongoing Strains

Over the past decade, Cypriot households have significantly increased their ability to manage debts—not only bank loans but also rent and utility bills. However, recent Eurostat data indicates that Cyprus continues to lag behind the European average when it comes to covering financial obligations on time.

Household Coping Strategies and the Limits of Payment Flexibility

While many families are managing their fixed expenses with relative ease, one in three Cypriots struggles to cover unexpected costs. This delicate balancing act highlights how routine payments such as mortgage installments, rent, and utility bills are met, but precariously so, with little room for unplanned financial shocks.

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Breaking Down Payment Delays Across the European Union

Eurostat reports that nearly 9.2% of the EU population experienced delays with their housing loans, rent, utility bills, or installment payments in 2024. The situation is more acute among vulnerable groups: 17.2% of individuals in single-parent households with dependent children and 16.6% in households with two adults managing three or more dependents faced payment delays. In every EU nation, single-parent households exhibited higher delay rates compared to the overall population.

Cyprus in the Crosshairs: High Rates of Financial Delays

Although Cyprus recorded a notable 19.1 percentage point improvement from 2015 to 2024 in delays related to mortgages, rent, and utility bills, the island nation still ranks among the top five countries with the highest delay rates. As of 2024, 12.5% of the Cypriot population had outstanding housing loans or rent and overdue utility bills. In contrast, Greece tops the list with 42.8%, followed by Bulgaria (18.7%), Romania (15.3%), Spain (14.2%), and other EU members. Notably, 19 out of 27 EU countries reported delay rates below 10%, with Czech Republic (3.4%) and Netherlands (3.9%) leading the pack.

Selective Improvements and Emerging Concerns

Between 2015 and 2024, the overall EU population saw a 2.6 percentage point decline in payment delays. Despite this, certain countries experienced increases: Luxembourg (+3.3 percentage points), Spain (+2.5 percentage points), and Germany (+2.0 percentage points) saw a rise in payment delays, reflecting underlying economic pressures that continue to challenge financial stability.

Economic Insecurity and the Unprepared for Emergencies

Another critical indicator explored by Eurostat is the prevalence of economic insecurity—the proportion of the population unable to handle unexpected financial expenses. In 2024, 30% of the EU population reported being unable to cover unforeseen costs, a modest improvement of 1.2 percentage points from 2023 and a significant 7.4 percentage point drop compared to a decade ago. In Cyprus, while 34.8% still report difficulty handling emergencies, this marks a drastic improvement from 2015, when the figure stood at 60.5%.

A Broader EU Perspective

Importantly, no EU country in 2024 had more than half of its population facing economic insecurity—a notable improvement from 2015, when over 50% of the population in nine countries reported such challenges. These figures underscore both progress and persistent vulnerabilities within European households, urging policymakers to consider targeted measures for enhancing financial resilience.

For further insights and detailed analysis, refer to the original reports on Philenews and Housing Loans.

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