Digital Literacy and Digital Competitiveness in Bulgaria: Crossing Points

This paper aims to discover and trace the correlations between digital literacy and digital competitiveness in Bulgaria and the other European Union countries. By analysing statistical data on the acquisition of digital skills by citizens, the level of Internet penetration, the use of digital services, e-government, etc. and the rankings for digital competitiveness, a comparison was made with other European Union member states and specific conclusions were drawn regarding digital literacy as one of the key factors for digital competitiveness. The research method used for the purposes is a meta-analysis of official statistical data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) and Eurostat. As part of the study, a comparative analysis of the positions of Bulgaria and other EU countries in established international rankings for digital literacy, digital competitiveness, media literacy, and press freedom was also carried out, which tracks the dynamics between the studied objects and deduces specific dependencies and factors for their emergence. Based on the results of the analyses, trends in Bulgaria’s digital transition have been followed, the reasons for the country’s lower positions compared to other European countries have been identified, and specific recommendations have been formulated for increasing digital literacy, and thus digital competitiveness, media literacy, and press freedom.