A new Internet Accessibility Index ranks Denmark as the most connected country in the world, while Burundi sits at the bottom of the list.
Compiled by BroadbandChoices, the index evaluates multiple factors to determine each nation’s level of connectivity. Criteria include average download and upload speeds, percentage of the population with internet access, affordability, mobile coverage, availability of free Wi‑Fi hotspots, and other measures that influence how broadly and reliably people can access the internet.
| Overall top 10 | Overall bottom 10 |
| Denmark | 160. Afghanistan |
| Liechtenstein | 161. Turkmenistan |
| United States | 162. Equatorial Guinea |
| Hong Kong | 163. São Tomé & Príncipe |
| Sweden | 164. Comoros |
| United Kingdom | 165. Tanzania |
| Australia | 166. Mozambique |
| Luxembourg | 167. Niger |
| Switzerland | 168. Mauritania |
| Andorra | 169. Burundi |
European countries dominate the list of fastest average download speeds. The top 10 countries by average download speed are:
- Liechtenstein – 187.35 Mbit/s
- Denmark – 99.08 Mbit/s
- Switzerland – 95.26 Mbit/s
- Hong Kong – 81.63 Mbit/s
- Sweden – 71.56 Mbit/s
- Andorra – 67.78 Mbit/s
- Bermuda – 65.01 Mbit/s
- Luxembourg – 56.67 Mbit/s
- Netherlands – 54.56 Mbit/s
- Finland – 54.06 Mbit/s
Notably, the United States and the United Kingdom are not at the very top: the US ranks 13th with an average speed of 34.13 Mbit/s, while the UK is 28th with 20.06 Mbit/s. Those figures highlight the uneven progress in upgrading broadband infrastructure in some high-income countries.
Plans to expand fiber networks have been a policy focus in several countries. For example, the UK previously set targets to extend full-fiber broadband nationwide, but current average speeds indicate that rollout has been slower than expected and that faster infrastructure investment remains necessary.
The situation at the low end of the spectrum is considerably more severe. Thirty countries—largely located in Sub‑Saharan Africa—report average download speeds below 1 Mbit/s. In many of these places, residents rely primarily on mobile connections rather than fixed-line services, which affects performance and affordability.
Rob Baillie of BroadbandChoices commented on the findings:
“Our research shows a significant divide in not just the quality of internet access around the world but also its inclusivity, with a significant number of people being priced out of the market – potentially having huge ramifications on education and employment prospects.
While there have been significant advances in communications technology in recent years, more needs to be done to connect rural and economically challenged communities; however, doing so will likely require higher levels of investment and more innovation than we’re currently seeing.
Reliable and affordable internet access is vital in order to be competitive in an increasingly digital global economy, and with the coronavirus pandemic only speeding up the move towards digital industries, developing countries are at risk of being left behind.”
The index also assessed affordability. The 10 countries with the lowest average monthly internet costs are:
- Ukraine – $7.20
- Russian Federation – $8.20
- Romania – $10.30
- Bhutan – $10.50
- Belarus – $11.00
- Iran – $11.00
- Kazakhstan – $11.50
- Moldova – $11.80
- Vietnam – $12.40
- Mongolia – $13.00
By contrast, the United States ranks 116th in terms of monthly internet price with an average cost of $60.40. The United Kingdom fares better at 65th place with an average of $38.70 per month. At the highest extreme, Mauritania has the most expensive average monthly internet cost, reported at $773.20 per month.
The study also examined mobile data costs per gigabyte. Several countries that offer low monthly broadband prices also rank among the cheapest per 1GB of mobile data. The top 10 cheapest countries for mobile data per 1GB are:
- India – $0.40
- Israel – $0.60
- Russian Federation – $0.70
- Sri Lanka – $0.80
- Kazakhstan – $0.90
- Kyrgyzstan – $1.00
- Denmark – $1.00
- Poland – $1.00
- Vietnam – $1.10
- Ukraine – $1.10
The United States is among the more expensive countries for mobile data, ranking 150th out of 169 countries with an average cost of $9.60 per 1GB. The United Kingdom ranks 76th with an average of $3.40 per 1GB.
The BroadbandChoices Internet Accessibility Index sheds light on the global disparities in connectivity—speed, coverage, and cost—that influence economic opportunity, education, and inclusion. Closing these gaps will require targeted investment, technological innovation, and policies that prioritize affordable, widespread access for underserved and rural communities.
(Photo by Compare Fibre on Unsplash)