Digital identity: The infrastructure of the 21st century
Why technology alone doesn't deliver scale
Paris, 6 May 2026
IN Groupe today publishes a new white paper on Digital Identity “Digital identity: infrastructure that changes everything: The secrets of countries that have achieved scale”.
Digital identity is emerging as the cornerstone of an inclusive, value-creating and sovereign digital public infrastructure (DPI), and as one of the foundations on which 21st-century economies and societies are built. Digital identity is a prerequisite for building effective DPI, as it enables trusted transactions, secure data exchange, and access to public and private services at scale.
Societies and economies cannot function without trust. And in the digital age, trust cannot exist without a sovereign, inclusive digital identity infrastructure. The digital identity infrastructure that is built today will shape inclusion, economic growth, and state–citizen relationships for decades. It must be sovereign, inclusive, and interoperable by design,
said Agnès Diallo, Chairwoman & CEO, IN Groupe.IN Groupe is publishing a white paper that provides a comprehensive analysis of digital identity infrastructures worldwide. The report challenges many preconceived ideas by addressing a key question for policymakers: what differentiates countries that have successfully implemented high-performing systems at national scale from those that have not?
To succeed, technology is not enough. Adoption at scale is critical
Based on the most comprehensive and recent global database covering 210 countries, and drawing on IN Groupe’s proprietary analysis as well as its experience working with 75 governments worldwide, this white paper shows that only one third of the countries studied have reached real maturity in digital identity.
The findings are clear: while many countries still approach digital identity as a purely technological project, those that succeed at scale treat it as a true economic and social infrastructure, embedded in everyday life. The key success factor is not technology but ecosystem engagement and large-scale deployment by both public and private sectors, including banking, telecommunications, healthcare, education and government services.
The difference between leading countries and others lies in their ability to integrate digital identity into the real economy. 97% of the most mature countries in our report have implemented multi-sector solutions. Technology is only part of the equation: scale and value creation depend on everyday usage,
said Olivier Charlanes, Executive Vice President for Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa at IN Groupe.Only one third of countries have deployed digital identity at scale
The IN Groupe report identifies three levels of maturity in the development of digital identity infrastructure. The most advanced group, the “Leaders” (33%), shares a common pattern: success is driven by the convergence of robust governance (anchored in a regulatory framework), appropriate technologies, and active ecosystem adoption. Without this convergence, systems tend to stall, lacking adoption and disconnected from real-life use cases.
The “leapfrog” phenomenon: success is not linked to wealth
Contrary to common assumptions, digital maturity is not directly correlated with a country’s level of wealth: it accounts for only 55% of the variance in digital infrastructure maturity scores. Thirteen low- and lower-middle-income countries have already reached Leader status, including seven in Africa and four in Asia.
Their success illustrates a “leapfrog” effect that should inspire others: even countries starting from challenging economic and structural conditions can achieve rapid progress.
The report proposes a digital identity development model along with concrete recommendations to help countries move from foundational or intermediate stages to full-scale deployment. It outlines seven operational principles for building a high-performing, value-generating national digital identity system: designing for usage, engaging the ecosystem, establishing strong governance, embedding inclusion by design, building trust at the core, preserving sovereignty, and ensuring sustainable financing.
The white paper is available now on IN Groupe’s website here.
About IN Groupe
IN Groupe is a global leader in secure identity and trust services, specializing in identity solutions, secure transactions and digital services. Building on a long-standing history of partnership with governments, the group also serves public and private organizations worldwide.
With deep expertise across the entire identity value chain, IN Groupe delivers solutions ranging from citizen ID to professional identity services, all in support of its core mission: providing every individual – whether citizen, consumer, or professional – with a secure identity in both the physical and digital worlds.
The group employs 4,000 people across 40 countries, serving governments and businesses in approximately 130 countries. It operates a global network of 20 research and development centers, as well as 10 industrial sites, and generates annual consolidated revenue of nearly €1 billion.
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