The Network Readiness Index 2023 ranks a total of 134 economies that collectively account for 95 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP). In the latest rankings, the United States and Singapore have retained their top positions as Rank 1 and 2, respectively, from the previous year. A notable advancement is Finland, which has surged by 4 places to secure 3rd place from its 7th position last year. Following closely are the Netherlands and Sweden, now ranking 4th and 5th, respectively.
Completing the top 10 are Switzerland (6th, down from 5th in NRI 2022), Republic of Korea (7th, up from 9th), Denmark (8th, down from 6th), Germany (9th, down from 8th), and the United Kingdom (10th, up from 12th). China has ascended to the 20th position, marking the only upper-middle-income country in the top 20. Conversely, Norway has experienced a significant decline, now standing at 16th place, down from 10th in 2022.
The top 10 performers in NRI 2023 underscore that advanced economies in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific are leading the way in terms of network readiness. Specifically, among the top 25 countries, 16 are from Europe (primarily Northern and Western Europe), five hail from Eastern and Southeastern Asia (including Singapore, the Republic of Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Japan), two come from Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), and two are from North America (Canada and the United States).
Of the economies covered in this year's index, 49 are high-income economies, 32 are upper-middle-income countries, 36 are lower-middle-income countries, and 14 are low-income countries. In terms of regional distribution, there are 33 African countries, 12 Arab States, 21 economies from Asia and the Pacific, 7 from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), 41 European countries, and 20 countries from the Americas.
Top 3 Countries by Income Group
| High Income Countries | Upper-Middle Income Countries | Lower-middle Income Countries | Low Income Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. United States of America (1) | 1. China (20) | 1. Ukraine (43) | 1. Rwanda (99) |
| 2. Singapore (2) | 2. Russian Federation (38) | 2. Viet Nam (56) | 2. Uganda (117) |
| 3. Finland (3) | 3. Malaysia (40) | 3. India (60) | 3. Gambia (120) |
Note: Global ranks in parentheses.
Top 3 Countries by region
| Africa | Arab States | Asia & Pacific | CIS | Europe | The Americas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kenya (70) | 1. United Arab Emirates (30) | 1. Singapore (2) | 1. Russian Federation (38) | 1. Finland (3) | 1. United States of America (1) |
| 2. South Africa (74) | 2. Saudi Arabia (41) | 2. Republic of Korea (7) | 2. Kazakhstan (58) | 2. Netherlands (4) | 2. Canada (11) |
| 3. Mauritius (76) | 3. Qatar (46) | 3. Japan (13) | 3. Armenia (63) | 3. Sweden (5) | 3. Brazil (44) |
Note: Global ranks in parentheses. CIS = Commonwealth of Independent States.