Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₁. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₁. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₂.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₃

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₁.

1. The Criteria: Modernity
2. Overall Results by Country
3. Overall Results by Region
4. The Social and Moral Development Index
5. Links

1. The Criteria: Modernity

1.1. Research and Development

#countries #denmark #finland #israel #japan #politics #research #science #south_korea #sweden #taiwan

Research and Development is a long-term boost to Human understanding: science improves our knowledge of the world, and new products such as better batteries for devices can improve our quality of lives. The world needs discoveries to help combat climate change, mitigate starvation and fight disease. The ten countries that commit most to Research and Development (as a percent of their GDP PPP) are mostly predictable; Japan, Finland, Sweden and Denmark top most developmental indices of any kind. Also in the list can be found technologically savvy South Korea and Taiwan and a few well-developed European countries. The only surprise (for some) is Israel, sitting 2nd in the list.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries Do the Most Research and Development?" by Vexen Crabtree (2016).

Research and Development By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.2. Intellectual Endeavours

The Good Country Index gauges how well countries are doing in helping international development. Their criteria on Contributions to Science & Technology include:

1. International students: Number of foreign students studying in the country (according to UNESCO) relative to the size of the economy.

2. Journal exports: Exports of periodicals, scientific journals and newspapers (according to ITC) relative to the size of the economy.

3. International publications: Number of articles published in international journals (according to SCImago) relative to the size of the economy.

4. Nobel prizes: Accumulated Nobel prizes (up to 2014) assigned to countries based on laureates' country of birth as well as country (countries) of institutional affiliation at the time of the award, relative to the size of the economy.

5. Patents: Number of International Patent Cooperation Treaty applications (according to WIPO) relative to the size of the economy.

Intellectual Endeavours By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.3. Metric System Adoption Rate

#metric

Since being adopted by France in 1795, the world has almost completely switched to the decimalized metric system for measures of weights, sizes, temperature and distances, replacing thousands of incompatible regional and national measurement systems. For example, in France alone, it replaced at least four different systems for measuring weights. It has allowed quick, efficient and clear communications without the need for language translating nor unit conversions. As of 2025, worldwide adoption of metric is at 92.4%.

With its decimal system, there was no longer a need to create specific units to represent portions. For example, there's no need for "inches" and "feet" and "yards": by allowing the simple use of decimals, the metric system simplified each realm of measurements with one single unit. There's no more need for converting major units into minor ones through multiplication (i.e., to turn miles into yards you multiply by 5280), all distances are based on metres; all weights are based on grammes, etc. In metric, common scales are used across all units: kilo for 1000s of something, milli for 1000^th of something. Simple is quick, and simplicity causes fewer mistakes than convolution.

Imperial units of distance replaced by the metre:
twip < thou < barleycorn < inch < hand < foot < yard < chain < furlong < mile < league.
Maritime units: fathom, cable, nautical mile.

By creating a shared international system, the metric system made communication clear and efficient: no need for translating all these words into multiple languages, no more transforming units from one country to another, and no more confusion caused by different nations having the same words for different quantities - for example, the US "pint" was 16 "fluid ounces" whereas a British "pint" was 20 "fluid ounces". Now, all languages and nations can communicate using a shared, common, system, allowing quick, efficient and clear comparisons, with a minimum of units, and no time required to investigate, learn and correctly convert.

SAMDI Scoring Formula: The ratings lean towards official adoption metrics: in measurements, weights and distances, does the law prioritize metric units over legacy units? Is metric taught in schools? Must industries use metric? Finally, some appreciation of how much the general public use metric is taken into account only where the difference between official adoption and public use features in reports. Although metric was invented in 1795, it's unfair to most countries to score them on how quickly it was adopted since 1795. France's allies were first only because they happened to be near France. It wouldn't be fair to down-point countries priod to the 1900s for not adopting a system that they may well have never heard of, in a world that was unevenly globalized. Instead, countries have been rated from the 1950s onwards because that's period from which there is enough data to gauge how far metrication had come in each country.

Sources:

• "International Measuring System of Units by Country" by Chartsbin (2010).

• Wikipedia - "Metrication". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication .

• US Metric Association (https://usma.org/) . Chronology of the Metric System. Detailed timeline of legislation and adoption milestones worldwide.

• US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on metric adoption, resistance, and sectoral penetration. Available on https://www.nist.gov/metric .

• Carmen J. Giunta - "A Brief History of the Metric System" (2023). Scholarly history tracing metric evolution from Revolutionary France to SI standards.

• Hector Vera - PhD Thesis on Metrication. Academic research on the spread of metrication and resistance in different countries.

Metric System Adoption Rate By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.4. Religiosity

#religion #religiosity #secularisation

High rates of religion are directly and indirectly linked with many inequalities and problems. For example, male-dominated society and abuse of women, gender inequality, poor adoption of human rights and anti-science and poor education policies. The data used here is part of the Social and Moral Index formula₂₄ to grant points based on areligiosity. The data set on belief in god is only informational, as such personal beliefs are not the same thing as organised, endemic religion. Note that on official polls, many answer the question 'are you religious' in the way they think is correct and traditional, rather than the way that is accurate; hence the 2018 asks people if they are very religious₂₅.

The developed world is becoming increasingly non-religious as part of a process called secularisation and portions of the rest of the world are following suit₂₆; secularisation is especially prominent in Europe₂₇.

The least religious countries are China (3%), Estonia (6%) and Czechia (7%)₂₃ and those with the lowest belief in god(s) are Vietnam (81%), Japan (65%) and Sweden (64%)₂₈. Conversely, the most religious countries are Ethiopia (98%), Senegal (98%) and Mali (94%)₂₃ and the most religious regions of the world are Africa (86.96%), Central America (81.5%) and The Caribbean (78%)₂₃.

For more, see:

• "How Religious is Each Country? Which Regions of the World are Least Religious?" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

Religiosity By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.5. IQ

#intelligence

IQ By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.6. Secondary Education

#education

This data shows the "percentage of the population ages 25 and older that has reached (but not necessarily completed) a secondary level of education"₃₁.

Secondary Education By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.7. Length of Schooling

#1990s #2000s #2010s #education

This data shows the "number of years of schooling that a child of school entrance age can expect to receive if prevailing patterns of age-specific enrolment rates persist throughout the child´s life"₃₃. It seems sensible that at some point an upper ceiling is necessary, so that countries with (for example) over 20 years of expected schooling gain no further points. However, we do not yet have a problem with lives being wasted by knowledge. Almost everywhere, we have the opposite problem: lives being wasted through ignorance.

The more that we can encourage learning, the better. We are at a stage of human development where we have, by a long way, reached a sufficient quantity of humans, and now, we need to improve the quality of humans. But in some places, it is especially difficult; around 581 million poor people across the world live in families where no-one has completed six years of school₃₄: they are stuck in a situation where families can't afford to support schooling, and yet, schooling is required to possibly break out of poverty. Education is the key that opens successive doors, generating understanding and giving life meaning, creating life options and allowing informed choices when approaching the world.

Length of Schooling By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.8. Maths, Science & Reading

#education #english #maths #science

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA - part of the OECD) tests 15-year-old student's capabilities every 3 years. It is hard to imagine a more important and long-lasting improvement for a populace than a good education, be this government-led, parent-led or community-led.

Maths, Science & Reading By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.9. Internet Users

#the_internet

Internet access has become an essential research tool. It facilitates an endless list of life improvements, from the ability to network and socialize without constraint, to access to a seemingly infinite repository of technical and procedural information on pretty much any task. The universal availability of data has sped up industrial development and personal learning at the national and personal level. Individuals can read any topic they wish regardless of the locality of expert teachers, and, entire nations can develop their technology and understanding of the world simply because they are now exposed to advanced societies and moral discourses online.

Internet access has become an essential part of politics, facilitating public involvement in national affairs and enabling informed debate. The political sociologist Larry Diamond calls it a 'liberation technology'₃₈.

The United Nation's human development report of 2019 stated that internet access falls within things "once considered luxuries that are now... critical to compete and belong"₃₉. Like every communications medium, the Internet has issues and causes a small range of problems, but these are insignificant compared to the advantages of having an online populace.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Internet Users By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.10. Freedom On The Internet

#politics #the_internet

This is an important category as internet access allows access to varied sources of information outside of state influence, and access to the information age is a massive boost to personal liberty and personal potential. Scores are derived from these categories:

1. "Obstacles to Access: assesses infrastructural and economic barriers to access; governmental efforts to block specific applications or technologies; and legal, regulatory and ownership control over internet and mobile phone access providers."
2. "Limits on Content: examines filtering and blocking of websites; other forms of censorship and self-censorship; manipulation of content; the diversity of online news media; and usage of digital media for social and political activism."
3. "Violations of User Rights: measures legal protections and restrictions on online activity; surveillance; privacy; and repercussions for online activity, such as legal prosecution, imprisonment, physical attacks, or other forms of harassment."

14 countries improved their stance on allowing access to the Internet uncensored by political or ideological bias, since last year. Bahrain, Pakistan, and Ethiopia saw the biggest increases in authoritarian behaviour. In many countries, imprisonment and violence against journalists and bloggers increased, and Pakistan's infamous blasphemy laws were increasingly enforced for online behaviour, reducing its ranking somewhat. "Only 4 of the 20 countries that recently experienced declines are considered electoral democracies. [...]"

"Regimes are covertly hiring armies of pro-government bloggers to tout the official point of view, discredit opposition activists, or disseminate false information about unfolding events [and] over the last year, it has been adopted in more than a quarter of the countries examined. The Bahraini authorities, for example, have employed hundreds of "trolls" whose responsibility is to scout popular domestic and international websites, and while posing as ordinary users, attack the credibility of those who post information that reflects poorly on the government."

Also see:

• "The Internet and Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2013)

Freedom On The Internet By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.11. IT Security

#it_security

This index measures to what extent countries produce spam and malware. Spam has threatened to destroy the world's email systems and has certainly cost the IT industry billions in mitigation. "Malware" is malicious software, and the index takes into account the number of servers based in country that are Botnet CnC machines (which are bad), and the numbers of servers that host malicious downloads, including some of those associated with the infamous Blackhole crimepak.

The index also includes measures of host-based virus-detection from removable devices such as USB drives. This measures the danger in running IT systems in those locations, and probably reflects badly on the society and governments level of understanding of IT security in general.

Being a source of spam or malware is gauged as being four times worse than the other factors considered, especially as detection and block actions from antivirus are a good thing and only indirectly give away the fact that the IT security of the local environment is bad.

The data comes from a range of IT security companies including AVG, Kaspersky, McAfee and Sophos, covering 2010, 2011 and 2012 reports. In total, 17 reports' data were accumulated for this index, in all cases listing the worst offenders. In all this data only 83 unique countries appeared. All countries not on these lists have been given full points on account of no news being good news!

The upside to this IT Security index is that countries that are host to malware score lowly, bringing down their average scores. The downside to this negative index is that over 100 countries scored top points and many of these are not countries that have excellent IT security, but merely are countries that do not have much IT infrastructure. Hopefully a positive measure of IT security will resolve this in the future.

IT Security By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.12. IPv6 Uptake

#the_internet

The time for preparation and transition is over: we should all be moving to IPv6. This is largely an issue for ISPs and large telecommunications companies, spurred on by government and citizen pressure. It is not good enough to ignore IPv6. Eventually when IPv4 support is removed from infrastructure, the entire network-of-networks (as well as individual networks) will run more smoothly and quicker. Don't hold up progress!

Sometimes, transition is a case of having to buy new equipment, but often the cost is tied up with having qualified administrators to make required configuration changes (and testing) on network devices. Because of this, the Social & Moral Development index only rates countries that have are at over $1,000 GDP per capita, in order to avoid punishing countries that are simply to poor and too troubled to modernize right now. Of the countries with the lowest GDP per Capita in the results, India performs very well indeed, proving to others that it can be done even where investments are spread thinly.

IPv6 Uptake By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

1.13. Digital Quality of Life

#modernity #technology #the_internet

The Digital Quality of Life Index (DQL) is the creation of the IT Security firm Surfshark. As per its sixth annual report in 2024, it includes 14 indicators, spread across five pillars: "internet affordability, internet quality, e-infrastructure, e-security, and e-government"₄₄. Many of the results are unsurprising - internet access is getting more affordable globally, and, investing in infrastructure and making government accessible online improves national wellbeing₄₄.

Digital Quality of Life By Global Region:

Note that these are values for the average country, not averages by total regional population.

2. Overall Results by Country

#education #human_development #modernity #technology #the_internet

The overall scores are simply an average of each countries' position in all of the data sets that make up this category. Countries only receive a ranking if they have at least 6 different data points across the data sets. The overall results for each country are listed alongside their position in the Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Overall Results by Region

#education #english #human_development #intelligence #it_security #maths #metric #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

The table here shows overall results for this category, compared with each region's average score on the Social and Moral Development Index. Regional values are calculated as an average of national results, not by total regional population. The tables below show results for each data set for each region.

Modernity Data Sets by Region:

Education Data Sets by Region:

Technology and Information Data Sets by Region:

4. The Social and Moral Development Index

The data sets form part of the calculations for the Human Truth Foundation's Social and Moral Development Index.

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.