This article examines the strategic importance of digital literacy in the context of the modern information society, the key problems hindering its development, prospects for its advancement, and the impact of digitalization on the economy. The study analyzes issues such as digital inequality, insufficient cybersecurity awareness, and the spread of misinformation, and identifies the impact of digital transformation on the population's digital skills and economic activity. A comparative analysis of 2023–2025 data demonstrates consistent positive dynamics across key indicators in Kazakhstan: the share of internet users rose from 78.5% to 88.7%, the digital literacy index increased from 62.3% to 75.6%, and cybersecurity awareness grew from 41.8% to 63.2%. An international comparative analysis is conducted based on the experience of Finland, Estonia, South Korea, and Singapore. A regional and age-based analysis reveals the geographic and demographic character of digital inequality. The results show that improving digital literacy contributes to growth in labor productivity, the development of entrepreneurship, greater accessibility of government services, and improved quality of human capital. Furthermore, based on a comparison of domestic and international practice, it is shown that the effective use of digital technologies makes it possible to reduce costs, strengthen innovation activity, form new types of employment, and enhance the global competitiveness of the national economy. The systematic development of digital skills is a joint task of the education system, the state, business, and civil society.

OTESHOVA A.K

DBA, senior lecturer, K. Zhubanov Aktobe regional university, Aktobe, Kazakhstan.

Е-mail: alma_081@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6119-3860 

NIYAZBAYEVA A.A

PhD, associate professor, K. Zhubanov Aktobe regional university, Aktobe, Kazakhstan.

Е-mail: aniyazbayeva@zhubanov.edu.kz, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6373-7358

MUSIROV G.M.

Candidate of economic sciences, associate professor, K. Zhubanov Aktobe regional university, Aktobe, Kazakhstan.

E-mail: mussirovgalym.60@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2853-6504

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digital literacy, digitalization, digital economy, digital divide, cybersecurity, human capital, labor productivity, international experience