Measuring Digital Quality of Life
European countries have the best digital quality of life. Nine European nations are on the top 10 countries for digital quality of life globally. The number ten is Singapore. France is the number one explained by affordability of its internet, which is the best in the world, according to a survey by Amsterdam-registered cybersecurity company Surfshark. Its Digital Quality of Life Index comprises 121 countries.
Sweden has the best electronic infrastructure globally but ranks 11th overall. Belgium has the strongest electronic security but is on 21st place in the full index.
The top 10 are France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Luxemburg, Spain, Estonia, Austria, Switzerland and Singapore.
Europe also has the fastest mobile and fixed internet speeds. Mobile internet in Europe averages 99 Mbps, 32% faster than the global average. European fixed internet average speed is 156 Mbps, 45% faster than the global norm.
Despite Northern Europe’s 15% lower GDP per capita it outperforms Northern America, the survey notes. The US comes in at 19th in 2023, down from 13th in 2021. To pay for mobile internet, Americans must work 1 hour and 37 minutes per month which is six times more than in Luxembourg, which is the mobile number one.
“Western Asia’s GDP per capita is 38% higher than the global average, but its DQLi (digital quality of life index) falls below the global average.”
The survey says that compared to last year globally, people have to work 11% (42 min) less to afford fixed broadband internet in 2023. Mobile internet is also more affordable — people have to work 26% (41 minutes) less than they did in 2022.
“This might indicate that internet prices have not yet caught up with inflation, as salaries have increased by almost 10%.”
22 countries — India, Philippines, Vietnam, Ukraine, Moldova, Colombia, Thailand, Peru, Brazil, Serbia, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, China, Argentina, Bulgaria, Russia, Chile, Romania, Poland, Croatia, Hungary — out of 121 exceed the expected digital quality of life by demonstrating higher levels of e-security, e-infrastructure, and e-government, according to the survey.
“These three pillars have a stronger correlation with the DQLi than GDP per capita. This indicated the possibility of elevating global digital wellbeing with fewer resources and more focused strategic planning.”
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