Intersecting Digitalization and Active Aging: Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in Euro-Mediterranean Countries

This chapter examines how national digital development, measured by the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), relates to active ageing outcomes in nine Euro-Mediterranean countries. Using a cross-sectional comparative design, it combines DESI data (2018, 2022) with the Active Ageing Index (AAI) for 2018. Descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, and bivariate scatterplot regressions are used to identify patterns and country-level deviations. The analysis focuses on four DESI dimensions: connectivity, human capital, integration of digital technologies, and digital public services. While DESI and AAI are generally positively correlated, several countries (e.g., Greece, Croatia, Portugal) display notable mismatches. Results suggest that digital progress does not automatically translate into better ageing outcomes. Material aspects of digitalisation—especially connectivity and digital public services—show stronger associations with AAI than human-capital dimensions. A structural divide emerges between Balkan and Western EuroMed countries, alongside persistent digital and social inequalities. The chapter argues that inclusive digital-ageing strategies must go beyond infrastructure, prioritising digital literacy, cultural inclusion, participatory design for older adults, lifelong learning, and territorial equity. It contributes one of the first macro-level comparative links between DESI and AAI in the EuroMed region, offering evidence to inform age-sensitive digital transformation agendas.