Worldwide Information Society Index

IDC published a ranking or index of the world's information societies.

The ISI is a unique study that combines 15 variables in four infrastructure "pillars" to calculate and rank each nation's ability to access and utilize information and information technology. In much the same way that gross domestic product (GDP) measures a country's economic wealth, the ISI measures its information capacity and wealth of 53 countries.

The four pillars are: Computers, Internet, Telecoms and Social.

The ranking goes as follows:

Rank 2004 Score
1. Denmark 963
2. Sweden 958
3. United States 938
4. Switzerland 929
5. Canada 925
6. Australia 919
7. Finland 911
8. Korea 904
9. Norway 899
10. United Kingdom 870

Among other Asian nations, Hong Kong and Australia finished 11th and 12th, followed by Singapore (13) while New Zealand, Japan and Taiwan finished in 17th, 18th and 20th place respectively. Malaysia was ranked 36, Indonesia 53, Thailand 42, China 44, and the Philippines 49. Vietnam is second last, ranked 52.

(by Asia Business Consulting)