Photo: tiimta · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 17 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Australia: Digital & Technology
How ready is a country to use, make and trade technology?
Australia is placed 30th of 198 countries on digital & technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GovTech Maturity Index 0.985 (2025); Government AI Readiness Index 75.73 (2025).
Share
Digital & Technology
30th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 0.985GovTech Maturity Index, 2025GTMI score (0–1)
- 75.73Government AI Readiness Index, 2025AI readiness score (0–100)
- 0.685Government Cyber Security Capacity, 2025Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
- 29.33Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports, 2024Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Australia on digital & technology — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.985
GTMI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Australia: 0.985. Across the 196 countries in this edition, values run from 0.01 (North Korea) to 0.997 (South Korea); the world median is 0.63.
- World median
- 0.63
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 0.985 Australia
75.73
AI readiness score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 9th of 195 by Oxford Insights
Australia: 75.73. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 12.12 (Guinea-Bissau) to 88.36 (United States); the world median is 40.19.
- World median
- 40.19
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 75.73 Australia
Key 3 of 4
Government Cyber Security Capacity
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.685
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
Higher is better
Australia: 0.685. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from -2.66 (Liberia) to 3.715 (Estonia); the world median is 0.196.
- World median
- 0.196
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 0.69 New Zealand
Key 4 of 4
Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
29.33
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
Higher is better
Australia: 29.33. Across the 170 countries in this edition, values run from 0.377 (Gambia) to 87.15 (Ireland); the world median is 25.42.
- World median
- 25.42
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 29.33 Australia
02Over time
Which way Australia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government AI Readiness Index
AI readiness score (0–100) · higher is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia rose from 73.58 in 2020 to 75.73 in 2025; the world median went from 39.58 to 40.19.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2025 75.7 40.2 2024 76.4 43.3 2023 73.9 41.4 2022 75.3 40.3 2021 75.4 44.1 2020 73.6 39.6 Government Cyber Security Capacity
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity · higher is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia rose from 0.683 in 2000 to 0.685 in 2025; the world median went from -0.514 to 0.196.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2025 0.69 0.20 2024 0.69 0.11 2023 0.69 0.14 2022 0.58 0.16 2021 0.91 0.12 2020 0.91 0.12 2019 0.57 0.10 2018 1.49 -0.05 2017 1.49 -0.08 2016 1.49 -0.10 2015 1.49 -0.17 2014 1.25 -0.21 2013 1.25 -0.21 2012 1.25 -0.25 2011 1.20 -0.32 2010 1.20 -0.31 2009 0.68 -0.50 2008 0.68 -0.51 2007 0.68 -0.51 2006 0.68 -0.55 2005 0.68 -0.55 2004 0.68 -0.55 2003 0.68 -0.55 2002 0.68 -0.51 2001 0.68 -0.51 2000 0.68 -0.51 Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) · higher is better
AustraliaWorld median
Australia rose from 22.3 in 2010 to 29.33 in 2024; the world median went from 19.88 to 25.42.
Every year’s figures
Year Australia World median 2024 29.33 25.42 2023 30.89 26.03 2022 41.66 26.04 2021 48.42 29.80 2020 36.47 29.47 2019 25.17 18.36 2018 24.11 20.09 2017 24.10 18.32 2016 24.50 18.15 2015 25.46 19.57 2014 25.79 21.00 2013 26.24 20.50 2012 25.33 19.56 2011 23.86 19.21 2010 22.30 19.88
03In context
Australia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on digital & technology, never a place within the region.
Australia and Australia and New Zealand
Australia has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GovTech Maturity IndexGTMI score (0–1) | Government AI Readiness IndexAI readiness score (0–100) | Government Cyber Security CapacityOriginal latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity | Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsDigitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 30th | 0.985 | 75.73 | 0.685 | 29.33 |
 New Zealandcompare | 52nd | 0.878 | 62.7 | 0.69 | 26.68 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Australia and New Zealand
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
- Australia30th
- New Zealand52nd
Placed either side on digital & technology
The countries immediately above and below Australia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Australia is ahead of the world, and behind
20 more statistics filed under digital & technology, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median13
Statistics on which Australia does better than the middle country measured.
Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2025 · world median 0.2060.0210.206No real change since 2015
Australia: 0.021 · world median 0.206 · Digital STRI (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.021 to 0.649; lower is better.
Position 125th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms with Their Own WebsiteWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 62.3996.2262.39No earlier reading
Australia: 96.22 · world median 62.39 · Firms with their own website (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.824 to 97.88; higher is better.
Position 5th of 181 · derived.
Government Dissemination of False Information (Domestic)V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median -0.1142.393-0.114▲ Improved since 2015
Australia: 2.393 · world median -0.114 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.2); higher = less disinformation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.392 to 2.93; higher is better.
Position 6th of 176 · derived.
Share of Firms' Payments Made ElectronicallyWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 64.2299.1564.22No earlier reading
Australia: 99.15 · world median 64.22 · Payments made electronically in a typical month, excluding payroll and payments to government (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 2.172 to 99.91; higher is better.
AI User Share of the Working-Age PopulationMicrosoft AI Economy Institute · 2026 · world median 15.4540.715.45No real change since 2025
Australia: 40.7 · world median 15.45 · Generative-AI users (% of population aged 15–64). Microsoft AI Economy Institute, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 6.1 to 73.3; higher is better.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.8690.485▼ Worsened since 2013
Australia: 0.869 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 16th of 170 · derived.
Smartphone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 78.7890.3378.78No earlier reading
Australia: 90.33 · world median 78.78 · Adults whose main mobile phone is a smartphone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.663 to 97.36; higher is better.
Position 17th of 140 · derived.
Internet Use Among AdultsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 83.0592.3183.05No earlier reading
Australia: 92.31 · world median 83.05 · Adults who used the internet in the past three months (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.06 to 99.12; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 140 · derived.
Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · 2024 · world median 98.6610098.66No real change since 2016
Australia: 100 · world median 98.66 · Primary schools with internet access for teaching (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Mobile Phone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 91.6895.4991.68No earlier reading
Australia: 95.49 · world median 91.68 · Adults who own a mobile phone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 45.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 36th of 140 · derived.
Government Internet ShutdownsV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.0231.171.023▼ Worsened since 2015
Australia: 1.17 · world median 1.023 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4 to +2); higher = fewer shutdowns. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.547 to 2.081; higher is better.
Position 77th of 176 · derived.
Government Social Media CensorshipV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5050.6590.505▼ Worsened since 2015
Australia: 0.659 · world median 0.505 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4.5 to +2.4); higher = less censorship. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.721 to 2.295; higher is better.
Position 82nd of 176 · derived.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.9751.010.975▼ Worsened since 2014
Australia: 1.01 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 58th of 119 · derived.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Australia does worse than the middle country measured.
ICT Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 7.4742.4217.474▼ Worsened since 2014
Australia: 2.421 · world median 7.474 · ICT services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 56.25; higher is better.
Position 93rd of 118 · derived.
Firms Experiencing Internet DisruptionsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.3560.6632.35No earlier reading
Australia: 60.66 · world median 32.35 · Firms that experienced internet outages or slow-downs (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.735 to 82.39; lower is better.
Position 21st of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Anthropic AI Usage IndexAnthropic · 2026 · world median 0.966.40.96No earlier reading
Australia: 6.4 · world median 0.96 · Claude usage index (1 = in proportion to working-age population). Anthropic, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 6.4.
GitHub DevelopersGitHub · 2026 · world median 84,6702,368,35784,670Moved since 2020
Australia: 2,368,357 · world median 84,670 · Developer accounts located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 110 to 32,410,529.
GitHub Git PushesGitHub · 2025 · world median 148,7142,783,690148,714No real change since 2020
Australia: 2,783,690 · world median 148,714 · Git pushes during the quarter. GitHub, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,967 to 40,768,192.
GitHub RepositoriesGitHub · 2026 · world median 141,4544,581,556141,454Moved since 2020
Australia: 4,581,556 · world median 141,454 · Public repositories located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 142 to 77,284,974.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6015.745.601Moved since 2014
Australia: 5.74 · world median 5.601 · Tertiary graduates from ICT programmes (% of all graduates). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 17.19.
No current reading for Australia
Made or Received a Digital Payment (last 2021). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Digital & Technology among Australia’s 15 topics
Digital & Technology is Australia’s 8th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labourjoint 4th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions7th of 1944/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital11th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge18th of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality23rd of 1834/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade23rd of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties27th of 1984/4 keys
- Digital & Technology30th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation27th of 1764/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing38th of 2003/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience38th of 1934/4 keys
- Peace & Security51st of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture54th of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 49th of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability80th of 1863/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on digital & technology
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Australia can most readily be measured against.
=1
EstoniaNorthern Europe
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 ee, greyscale
=1
South KoreaEastern Asia
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
3rd of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia30th4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Australia on digital & technology: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Australia rank on digital & technology?
Australia is placed 30th of 198 countries on Digital & Technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (GovTech Maturity Index, Government AI Readiness Index, Government Cyber Security Capacity and Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GovTech Maturity Index figure for Australia?
0.985 in 2025 (gTMI score (0–1)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.63.
What is the latest Government AI Readiness Index figure for Australia?
75.73 in 2025 (aI readiness score (0–100)), according to Oxford Insights. The world median in the same edition was 40.19.
How have Australia’s digital & technology figures changed?
Government AI Readiness Index rose from 73.58 in 2020 to 75.73 in 2025; Government Cyber Security Capacity rose from 0.683 in 2000 to 0.685 in 2025; Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports rose from 22.3 in 2010 to 29.33 in 2024.
Which digital & technology statistics are missing for Australia?
No current reading is published for Australia on Made or Received a Digital Payment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Broadband and mobile subscriptions, connection speeds and the cost of getting online are absent, for the licence reason above; internet use and phone ownership, from the World Bank’s own household survey, and firms’ websites and internet disruptions, from its Enterprise Surveys, are published here as context. The ICT share of goods exports votes under Mobility & Trade. Digital public services and data-protection law are not held yet. Research and development spending is filed under Education & Knowledge, and what an economy knows how to make is under Economy & Innovation.
How the Digital & Technology standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The digital & technology method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GovTech Maturity Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Government AI Readiness Index — Oxford Insights, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Cyber Security Capacity — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 20 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Australia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Australia (banner) — tiimta, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Estonia — Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Australia: Digital & Technology — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/australia/digital