Madeira ranks among Portuguese regions with the greatest difficulties in developing the Information Society, occupying the 8th position in the 2025 Regional Digital Index (RDI), released by the University of Minho. The study indicates that the Region was the only NUT II where a greater divergence from the national average was observed, amidst a scenario marked by significant digital asymmetries in the country.
According to the 12th edition of the study, Greater Lisbon leads the overall index, while Madeira and the Azores occupy the last places in the ranking, in 8th and 9th positions, respectively. Researchers highlight that, despite a general convergence of regions towards the national average, this evolution was not observed in Madeira, where a greater divergence was recorded.
The study by Gávea – Observatory of the Information Society of the University of Minho, which analyzed 156 indicators, highlights the persistence of regional differences in Information Society development in Portugal. Researchers warn that regional asymmetries in Information Society development are "bad news" given the challenges of the digital transition.
