The report has officially been launched by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs through the Division for Public Administration and Development Management. It presents various roles for e-government in addressing the ongoing world financial and economic crisis.

Since the last edition of the survey, in 2008, governments have made great strides in development of online services, especially in middle-income countries. The costs associated with telecommunication infrastructure and human capital continue to impede e-government development. However, effective strategies and legal frameworks can compensate significantly, even in least developed countries.