Denmark ranked as the world’s top government for digitalisation
Denmark has once again topped the United Nations E-Government Survey which assesses countries on the scope and quality of their online services, as well as their telecommunication infrastructure and human capacity.
Also in this year’s top ten out of the UN’s 193 member states are Estonia, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Iceland, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Australia, Finland and the Netherlands. Denmark has consistently led the ranking, which is published every other year, since 2018.
The United Nations said the latest survey shows that “despite intersecting and compounding global crises in recent years, nations and regions worldwide have accelerated their commitment to digital government strategies”.
Tech strides
According to this year’s research, good progress has been made in the areas of digital governance, boosted by investments in resilient infrastructure and technologies like artificial intelligence, cloud computing and broadband. The survey found that 71.5% of UN member states are now at the high or very high E-Government Development Index (EGDI) levels.
However, it suggests that while digital transformation has sparked innovation and growth, particularly in the private sector, many countries still face hurdles in fully leveraging these advancements to enhance public services and participation.
“The survey highlights the strides made in digital government and addressing the persistent digital divide, particularly in regions like Africa and Oceania. While the divide may not be fully bridged by 2030, the latest advancements present a significant opportunity,” said Li Junhua, United Nations under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs.
“By accelerating efforts and adopting innovative, inclusive solutions, we can ensure that all nations benefit from the transformative power of digital government, making public administration more effective, resilient and equitable.”
Read more: UN recognises public service projects that are advancing SDGs
Why Denmark wins
The report finds that top-performing countries in the European Union, such as Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Spain, have embedded the principles promoted by the European Commission into their national development strategies.
“By effectively utilising both national and European funding for digital initiatives, they have demonstrated the critical role that strategic alignment and targeted investment play in achieving digital excellence,” the UN says.
Denmark is praised for its proactive approach in advancing its digital government strategy, focusing on creating comprehensive digital portals for citizens, businesses and health services, and for citizen engagement initiatives like borgerforslag.dk, which allows people to create, view and support citizen proposals for changes in legislation or society.
In addition, the UN report highlights Denmark’s National Digital Strategy (2022-2025) which emphasises cross-sector collaboration and integrates public, private and civil society efforts.
“The country also incorporates sustainability into public procurement and explores AI, robotics, and 5G infrastructure to enhance public services and promote green transitions,” the report says. “These efforts underscore Denmark’s commitment to a secure, inclusive and sustainable digital future.”
The Danish government puts its success down to initiatives such as its digital ID programme, MitID, which enables residents to access both public and private sector services. However, more broadly, the government says on its website that “the key to digital success is trust”.
Read more: South Korea tops OECD Digital Government Index
Regional leaders
While all regions have achieved progress in various areas, the research shows that the pace of development has been uneven and regional disparities persist. Europe is leading in e-government development, but Asia is advancing more rapidly than the other four regions.
The United States and Canada lead in North America but only rank 19th and 47th respectively overall. The research notes that while both countries are actively pursuing digital transformation, “the federal structure leads to variations in digital service quality and quantity across different regions”.
In Africa, Mauritius and South Africa have moved up to the high EGDI group, marking the first time countries from this region have reached the highest level. However, most African countries have EGDI levels below the global average.
About Sarah Wray
Sarah has over 15 years’ experience as a journalist with a specialism in the public sector and topics such as digitalisation and climate action. Sarah was formerly the editor of Cities Today and Smart Cities World, as well as a specialist video-based publication in the aerospace sector. She has also written for publications including Smart Cities Dive, Mobile Europe, Mobile World Live and Computer Weekly.
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