Digital Poverty
Digital Exclusion in Birmingham: A Persistent Challenge
Birmingham, despite being the UK’s second-largest city, faces significant challenges in digital inclusion. Approximately 22% of West Midlands residents are non-users of the internet, a figure notably higher than the national average of 15%. An additional
23.3% are limited users, indicating that nearly half of the region’s population experiences poor internet access.
The issue is particularly acute among women. Nationally, women constitute 59% of internet non-users, and 61% of adults lacking basic digital skills are women. In Birmingham, this trend is exacerbated by socio-economic factors. The city has a high concentration of low-income households, with 1 in 5 households earning under £25,000 annually lacking internet access. Moreover, 13% of residents have never sent an online message or email, highlighting a significant digital skills gap.
