3 Population Demography – Background Data

Questions one to five in the survey are background variables disclosing the participants:

Age
Gender
Education level
Region of residence
Need for assistance when using digital healthcare services.

In this section, results based on these background variables are presented for the five countries.

3.1 Background Data Collected – Age, Gender, Education, and Need for IT Assistance

The background data for the participants from the five Nordic countries are presented in Table 3.1.a, except answers about region of residency which can be found in section 3.3.

Table 3.1.a Compiled background data. Data on all five countries compiled for "Age groups", "Gender", "Education level", and "Need for assistance" respectively.
*Several education levels are included, see all data in detail in Table 3.2.c.

	Denmark		Finland		Iceland		Norway		Sweden
Age groups	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
18–29 years	180	18	184	18	215	21	204	20	199	20
30–39 years	151	15	160	16	195	19	174	17	170	17
40–49 years	172	17	151	15	171	17	169	17	166	16
50–59 years	170	17	173	17	156	15	176	17	162	16
60–69 years	153	15	167	16	141	14	145	14	148	15
70 years and above	191	19	180	18	135	13	148	15	172	17
	Denmark		Finland		Iceland		Norway		Sweden
Gender	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Female	512	50	509	50	525	52	507	50	505	50
Male	504	50	491	48	479	47	505	50	503	49
Non-binary	0	0	10	1	7	1	2	0	5	0
Do not wish not to share that information	1	0	5	0	2	0	2	0	4	0
	Denmark		Finland		Iceland		Norway		Sweden
Education	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Primary school	44	4	92	9	95	9	45	4	78	8
Secondary education (Matriculation exam)	95	9	102	10	233*	23*	129	13	449	44
Vocational education (Skilled worker, Craftsman)	131	13	278	27	106*	10*	113	11	-	-
Short higher education (less than 3 years)	99	10	142	14	89*	9*	145	14	-	-
Medium-length higher education (3–4 years)	313	31	214	21	253	25	305	30	475	47
Longer higher education (over 4 years)	303	30	170	17	224	22	265	26	-	-
PhD	32	3	17	2	13	1	14	1	15	1
	Denmark		Finland		Iceland		Norway		Sweden
Need for assistance with IT	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Never	805	79	670	66	786	78	743	73	758	75
Rarely	137	13	204	20	121	12	171	17	146	14
Sometimes	39	4	63	6	50	5	68	7	59	6
Often	10	1	21	2	17	2	7	1	25	2
Always	11	1	16	2	8	1	8	1	5	0
Not relevant, I do not use digital health services	11	1	26	3	25	2	16	2	16	2
Don't know/do not remember	4	0	15	1	6	1	3	0	8	1
N	1017		1015		1013		1016		1017

In Table 3.1.a, the homogeneity of the populations in the Nordic countries is characteristic when looking at the age and gender distribution, although respondents from Iceland are slightly younger compared to respondents from the other countries. The educational systems are slightly different in the countries, which needs to be kept in mind when making comparisons.

3.2 Education Level

This section shows the citizens’ highest completed education. The education level divisions are different in the five Nordic countries; thus, the answers are presented separately.

Denmark

Table 3.2.a and Figure 3.2.a disclose the educational level of the Danish population.

Education Level	Freq	%
Primary school	44	4
Secondary education (Matriculation exam, HF, HTX, HHX etc.)	95	9
Vocational education	131	13
Short higher education (less than 3 years)	99	10
Medium-length higher education (3–4 years)	313	31
Longer higher education (over 4 years)	303	30
PhD	32	3
Total	1017	100

Table 3.2.a Danish participants distributed by education level.

Figure 3.2.a Danish participants distributed by education level.

As seen in Table 3.2.a and Figure 3.2.a, 60% of the participants have either a Medium-length or Longer higher education. Nine to 13% of the population has either a Secondary, Vocational, or Short higher education, whereas very few are located at each end of the spectrum, with a Primary school (4%) or a PhD (3%) as the highest completed education.

Finland

In Table 3.2.b and Figure 3.2.b, the distribution of the educational level of the Finnish participants is displayed.

Education Level	Freq	%
Primary school	92	9
Secondary education (Matriculation exam)	102	10
Vocational education	278	27
Short higher education (less than 3 years)	142	14
Medium-length higher education (3–4 years)	214	21
Longer higher education (over 4 years)	170	17
PhD	17	2
Total	1015	100

Table 3.2.b Finnish participants distributed by education level.

Figure 3.2.b Finnish participants distributed by education level.

As seen in Table 3.2.b and Figure 3.2.b, the most frequent education level is Vocational education (27%), followed by Medium-length higher education (21%) and Longer higher education (17%).

Iceland

Table 3.2.c and Figure 3.2.c present the distribution of the Icelandic participants according to education level.

Education Level	Freq	%
Primary school	95	9
Youth education	57	6
Vocational education	49	5
Master’s degree in industrial industry	52	5
Matriculation exam	139	14
Secondary education, other than Matriculation exam	94	9
Secondary education, technical school examination	37	4
Bachelor’s degree, BSc	253	25
Master’s degree, MSc	224	22
PhD	13	1
Total	1013	100

Table 3.2.c Icelandic participants distributed by education level.

Figure 3.2.c Icelandic participants distributed by education level.

Figure 3.2.c shows that Bachelor’s degree, BSc (25%) and Master’s degree, MSc (22%) are the most frequent educational levels in an Icelandic context, followed by Matriculation exam (14%), Primary school (9%), and Secondary education, other than Matriculation exam (9%).

Norway

Table 3.2.d and Figure 3.2.d shows the distribution of educational level in the Norwegian population.

Education Level	Freq	%
Primary school	45	4
Secondary education (Matriculation exam)	129	13
Vocational education	113	11
Short higher education (less than 3 years)	145	14
Medium-length higher education (3–4 years)	305	30
Longer higher education (over 4 years)	265	26
PhD	14	1
Total	1016	100

Table 3.2.d Norwegian participants distributed by education level.

Figure 3.2.d Norwegian participants distributed by education level.

In Norway, Medium-length higher education (30%) and Longer higher education (26%) are the most frequent education levels, while Primary school (4%) and PhD (1%) are the least frequent education levels.

Sweden

Table 3.2.e and Figure 3.2.e provide an overview of the educational level in Sweden.

Education Level	Freq	%
Primary school	78	8
Secondary school	449	44
University/College	475	47
PhD	15	1
Total	1017	100

Table 3.2.e Swedish participants distributed by education level.

Figure 3.2.e Swedish participants distributed by education level.

As seen in Figure 3.2.e, the majority of the Swedish participations have an education level of either Secondary school (44%) or University/College (47%). 8% of the population have Primary school as the highest education and 1% have a PhD.

3.3 Regions

This section provides overviews of the citizens’ region of residence.

Denmark

Region	Freq	%
Region Hovedstaden	324	32
Region Sjælland	143	14
Region Syddanmark	214	21
Region Midtjylland	235	23
Region Nordjylland	101	10
Total	1017	100

Table 3.3.a Danish Citizens distributed by region.

Figure 3.3.a Danish participants distributed by region.

Finland

Region	Freq	%
City of Helsinki	135	13
East Uusimaa wellbeing services county	12	1
Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county	56	6
Central Uusimaa wellbeing services county	39	4
West Uusimaa wellbeing services county	73	7
Kanta-Häme wellbeing services county	36	4
Päijät-Häme wellbeing services county	30	3
Southwest Finland wellbeing services county	97	10
Satakunta wellbeing services county	38	4
Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county	89	9
Central Finland wellbeing services county	49	5
Kymenlaakso wellbeing services county	26	3
South Karelia wellbeing services county	32	3
South Savo wellbeing services county	22	2
South Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county	38	4
Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county	20	2
Central Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county	9	1
North Karelia wellbeing services county	31	3
North Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county	82	8
North Savo wellbeing services county	66	7
Kainuu wellbeing services county	12	1
Lapland wellbeing services county	23	2
Total	1015	100

Table 3.3.b Finnish Citizens distributed by region.

Figure 3.3.b Finnish participants distributed by region.

Iceland

Region	Freq	%
Höfuðborgarsvæðið	648	64
Suðurnes (Reykjanes)	66	7
Vesturland	42	4
Vestfirðir	18	2
Norðurland vestra	18	2
Norðurland eystra	102	10
Austurland	45	4
Suðurland	74	7
Total	1013	100

Table 3.3.c Icelandic Citizens distributed by region.

Figure 3.3.c Icelandic participants distributed by region.

Norway

Region	Freq	%
Midt-Norge	144	14
Nord-Norge	90	9
Oslo	132	13
Sørlandet ink Telemark	88	9
Vestlandet	204	20
Østlandet	358	35
Total	1016	100

Table 3.3.d Norwegian Citizens distributed by region.

Figure 3.3.d Norwegian participants distributed by region.

Sweden

Region	Freq	%
Blekinge	20	2
Dalarna	19	2
Gävleborg	24	2
Gotland	11	1
Halland	36	4
Jämtland	20	2
Jönköbing	28	3
Kalmar	24	2
Kronoberg	14	1
Norrobotten	26	3
Örebro	27	3
Östergötland	51	5
Skåne	132	13
Södermanland	31	3
Stockholm	222	22
Uppsala	35	3
Värmland	47	5
Västerbotten	27	3
Västernorrland	22	2
Västmanland	27	3
Västra Götaland	174	17
Total	1017	100

Table 3.3.e Swedish Citizens distributed by region.

Figure 3.3.e Swedish participants distributed by region.

3.4 Need for assistance when using digital healthcare services

Question 5 in the questionnaire regards citizens’ need for assistance when using digital healthcare services. The answers are outlined in Table 3.4.a and Figure 3.4.a.

Table 3.4.a Need for assistance when using digital healthcare services.

Need for assistance with IT	Denmark		Finland		Iceland		Norway		Sweden
Need for assistance with IT	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Never	805	79	670	66	786	78	743	73	758	75
Rarely	137	13	204	20	121	12	171	17	146	14
Sometimes	39	4	63	6	50	5	68	7	59	6
Often	10	1	21	2	17	2	7	1	25	2
Always	11	1	16	2	8	1	8	1	5	0
Not relevant, I do not use digital healthcare services	11	1	26	3	25	2	16	2	16	2
Don't know/do not remember	4	0	15	1	6	1	3	0	8	1
Total	1017	100	1015	100	1013	100	1016	100	1017	100

1Figure 3.4.a Need for assistance when using digital healthcare services.

As seen in Figure 3.4.a, the majority of the participants replied Never or Rarely (86%, 89%, 90%, and 92%). Nonetheless, citizens' need for assistance when using digital healthcare services still requires attention as 6% to 10% across the countries sometimes, often, or always need assistance.