When is comes to identification on a national level, the landscape is changing at an incredible rate. At the tip of the spear are electronic identity credentials (eID) that are being used to do far more than just prove an identity.

The modern national ID is helping to consolidate more services and functions than ever before, and adoption is happening on a global scale. In a report from Acuity Market Intelligence entitled “The Global National eID Industry Report,” it is estimated that global eID program revenues will peak at $10.5 billion annually in 2016. This figure is expected to hover around $8-9 billion annually thereafter. In terms of units issued, annual eID volumes will vary from 600 to 800 million units between 2015 and 2018.

The overarching objective of eID programs is to bring the national credential up to speed with the digital modernization of trusted identities. The smart cards, which may include more than one microprocessor, are enabling citizens to do everything from prove their age to login to government services.

Key to this is the mobile device – the new standard for connectivity. In response to mobile, the national credential is now expected to be agile, easy to use and technically complex enough to facilitate the exchange of information between people and federal resources.

In an attempt to better understand the macro-level trends and underlying dynamics, throughout 2015 re:ID will explore eID initiatives on a region-by-region basis. First stop, Europe.

Europe at a glance

Europe kicks off the series as the regional front-runner and bastion of eID implementations. The continent has seen the most rapid growth in the number of eID programs and is home to some of the most advanced and mature projects on the planet.

There are 21 eID initiatives in place across the European continent, with an estimated 150 million citizens – roughly 30% of the continent’s population – in possession of an eID credential, according to a Gemalto whitepaper. These programs include 16 of the 28 countries of the European Union.

According to Acuity’s report, of the total revenue generated for eID in 2013, Germany represented the largest at 26%. Germany was followed by the Ukraine at 17.7% and Spain at 16.8%. By 2015, the market is expected to shift with Turkey and Russia leading at 26% and 18.5% revenue share respectively.

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