To order raw e-government data, visit http://www.InsidePolitics.org/egovtdata.html

 

Fourth Annual Global E-Government Study

 

Taiwan, Singapore lead U.S. and Canada in Online Government

 

A study of digital government finds that the 198 nations around the world are making steady progress at putting services and information online, but movement forward has been slowed because of budget, bureaucratic, and institutional factors. The United States and Canada rank third and fourth behind Taiwan and Singapore.

 

Providence, RI—A new study of global e-government undertaken by researchers at Brown University shows that 21 percent of government agencies around the world are offering online services, up from 16 percent in 2003, 12 percent in 2002, and eight percent in 2001.  The countries of Taiwan and Singapore now lead the United States and Canada in overall e-government performance.      

 

The fourth annual survey conducted by Professor Darrell M. West of the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University and a team of researchers measured each country’s on-line presence.  The research evaluated government websites on two dozen different criteria, including the availability of publications, databases, disability access, privacy, security, and the number of online services.  Previous studies of global e-government were released in 2001, 2002, and 2003. 

 

This year's study reviews 1,935 government websites in 198 countries during June, July, and August, 2004.  Among the sites analyzed are those of executive offices, legislative offices, judicial offices, Cabinet offices, and major agencies serving crucial functions of government, such as health, human services, taxation, education, interior, economic development, administration, natural resources, foreign affairs, foreign investment, transportation, military, tourism, and business regulation.

 

Researchers find that 89 percent of websites have online publications and 62 percent have links to databases.  Only 14 percent (up from 12 percent in 2003) show privacy policies and 8 percent present security policies (up from 6 percent in 2003).  According to automated software provided by the company Watchfire, Inc., government websites also are lagging on disability access.  Only 14 percent of sites provide some form of disability access, such as assistance for the vision or hearing-impaired.  That figure is unchanged since 2003.

 

In addition to looking at particular features, researchers also rate countries for overall e-government performance.  Using an assessment of number of services plus access to information, disability access, privacy, security, and foreign language translation, each country is rated on a 0 to 100 point scale.  The most highly ranked country is Taiwan, followed by Singapore, the United States, Canada, Monaco, China, and Australia.  Some countries had sizeable moves up from last year based on new features added to their websites.  The following table shows how each of the world's 198 countries ranks on e-government performance.

Fourth Annual Global e-Government Rankings
(Previous year’s rank and score are in parentheses)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Rank

Country

Score

   Rank

Country

Score

1

 (5)

Taiwan

44.3 (41.3)

26

 (24)

Belgium

31.3 (34.0)

2

 (1)

Singapore

43.8 (46.3)

27

 (21)

Netherlands

31.0 (34.3)

3

 (2)

United States

41.9 (45.3)

28

 (27)

Czech Republic

30.9 (33.8)

4

 (3)

Canada

40.3 (42.4)

29

 (23)

Japan

30.8 (34.2)

5

 (166)

Monaco

39.0 (24.5)

30

 (62)

Saudi-Arabia

30.7 (31.8)

6

 (11)

China

37.3 (35.9)

31

 (13)

Denmark

30.6 (35.5)

7

 (4)

Australia

36.7 (41.5)

32

 (87)

South Korea

30.5 (30.0)

8

 (44)

Togo

36.0 (32.0)

33

 (76)

Kuwait

30.1 (30.7)

9

 (20)

Germany

35.0 (34.4)

34

 (95)

Ireland

29.9 (29.4)

10

 (185)

Iraq

34.0 (24.0)

35

 (62)

Sweden

29.8 (31.8)

11

 (19)

Hong Kong

33.7 (34.5)

36

 (75)

Jordan

29.7 (30.8)

12

 (13)

New Zealand

33.6 (35.5)

37

 (85)

India

29.6 (30.1)

13

 (34)

Italy

33.2 (33.2)

37

 (109)

Luxembourg

29.6 (28.7)

14

 (27)

Bahrain

33.0 (33.8)

37

 (30)

Mexico

29.6 (33.7)

14

 (149)

Dominica

33.0 (26.7)

40

 (44)

Chile

29.2 (32.0)

14

 (7)

Great Britain

33.0 (37.7)

41

 (13)

Finland

29.1 (35.5)

14

 (151)

Liechtenstein

33.0 (26.5)

42

 (119)

Iran

29.0 (28.0)

18

 (27)

France

32.8 (33.8)

42

 (76)

Lebanon

29.0 (30.7)

19

 (32)

Israel

32.3 (33.3)

42

 (17)

Maldives

29.0 (35.2)

20

 (119)

Bolivia

32.0 (28.0)

42

 (44)

Palau

29.0 (32.0)

20

 (184)

Indonesia

32.0 (24.0)

46

 (44)

Poland

28.6 (32.2)

20

 (191)

Marshall Islands

32.0 (20.0)

47

 (71)

Estonia

28.5 (30.9)

20

 (119)

Moldova

32.0 (28.0)

47

 (93)

Oman

28.5 (29.8)

20

 (119)

Saint Vincent, Grenadines

32.0 (28.0)

49

 (44)

Qatar

28.3 (32.0)

25

 (144)

Malta

31.4 (27.6)

49

 (44)

Uzbekistan

28.3 (32.0)

Rankings from 51 to 100:

51

 (10)

Austria

28.2 (36.0)

76

 (68)

Peru

26.7 (31.3)

52

 (71)

Greece

28.1 (30.9)

77

 (70)

Cambodia

26.5 (31.0)

52

 (21)

Iceland

28.1 (34.3)

77

 (68)

Spain

26.5 (31.3)

54

 (44)

Belize

28.0 (32.0)

77

 (80)

Vietnam

26.5 (30.5)

54

 (119)

Egypt

28.0 (28.0)

80

 (119)

Panama

26.4 (28.0)

54

 (158)

Guyana

28.0 (26.0)

81

 (67)

Bulgaria

26.3 (31.4)

54

 (71)

Latvia

28.0 (30.9)

81

 (87)

Sudan

26.3 (30.0)

54

 (119)

Myanmar

28.0 (28.0)

83

 (99)

Andorra

26.2 (29.3)

54

 (44)

North Korea

28.0 (32.0)

83

 (8)

Malaysia

26.2 (36.7)

60

 (37)

Slovakia

27.9 (32.8)

85

 (118)

El Salvador

26.1 (28.1)

61

 (44)

Slovenia

27.7 (32.0)

86

 (119)

Afghanistan

26.0 (28.0)

62

 (13)

Philippines

27.6 (35.5)

86

 (178)

Congo (Republic)

26.0 (24.0)

62

 (11)

Switzerland

27.6 (35.9)

86

 (95)

Gambia

26.0 (29.4)

62

 (42)

Thailand

27.6 (32.4)

86

 (169)

Madagascar

26.0 (24.0)

62

 (6)

Turkey

27.6 (38.3)

86

 (119)

Mauritania

26.0 (28.0)

66

 (71)

Armenia

27.5 (30.9)

86

 (31)

Portugal

26.0 (33.6)

66

 (37)

Romania

27.5 (32.8)

86

 (9)

Vatican

26.0 (36.5)

66

 (43)

Serbia and Montenegro

27.5 (40.0)

93

 (66)

Ukraine

25.8 (31.6)

69

 (80)

Lithuania

27.3 (30.5)

94

 (112)

Mongolia

25.7 (28.6)

70

 (34)

Croatia

27.2 (33.2)

95

 (115)

Albania

25.6 (28.3)

71

 (44)

Bahamas

27.0 (32.0)

95

 (106)

Morocco

25.6 (28.9)

71

 (34)

Norway

27.0 (33.2)

97

 (92)

Hungary

25.4 (29.9)

71

 (18)

Saint Lucia

27.0 (35.0)

98

 (85)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

25.3 (30.1)

74

 (76)

Bangladesh

26.8 (30.7)

98

 (75)

Georgia

25.3 (30.8)

75

 (32)

Cyprus (Republic)

26.8 (33.3)

98

 (196)

Laos

25.3 (19.0)

Rankings from 101 to 150:

101

 (87)

Botswana

25.0 (30.0)

126

 (65)

Djibouti

23.6 (31.7)

102

 (26)

Colombia

24.8 (33.9)

127

 (95)

Argentina

23.5 (29.4)

103

 (87)

Belarus

24.7 (30.0)

128

 (106)

Jamaica

23.4 (28.9)

104

 (102)

Pakistan

24.6 (29.1)

129

 (99)

Russian Federation

23.3 (29.3)

105

 (106)

Yemen

24.5 (28.9)

130

 (115)

Ecuador

23.2 (28.3)

106

 (95)

Brazil

24.4 (29.4)

130

 (41)

Nepal

23.2 (32.5)

107

 (103)

Barbados

24.3 (29.0)

130

 (44)

Tunisia

23.2 (32.2)

108

 (62)

South Africa

24.2 (31.8)

130

 (109)

Venezuela

23.2 (28.7)

109

 (145)

Arab Emirates

24.0 (27.4)

134

 (154)

Ghana

23.0 (26.3)

109

 (177)

Chad

24.0 (24.0)

134

 (167)

San Marino

23.0 (24.2)

109

 (119)

Comoros

24.0 (28.0)

136

 (119)

Algeria

22.8 (28.0)

109

 (44)

Cote d’Ivoire

24.0 (32.0)

136

 (83)

Fiji

22.8 (30.4)

109

 (119)

Cyprus (Turkish Republic)

24.0 (28.0)

138

 (157)

Zambia

22.7 (26.1)

109

 (109)

Dominican Republic

24.0 (28.7)

139

 (145)

Burkina Faso

22.6 (27.4)

109

 (84)

Ethiopia

24.0 (30.3)

140

 (37)

Brunei

22.4 (32.8)

109

 (114)

Kazakhstan

24.0 (28.4)

141

 (161)

Mozambique

22.3 (25.5)

109

 (168)

Libya

24.0 (24.0)

142

 (151)

Mauritius

22.2 (26.5)

109

 (119)

Macedonia

24.0 (28.0)

143

 (153)

Cape Verde

22.0 (26.4)

109

 (103)

Nigeria

24.0 (29.0)

143

 (179)

Cook Islands

22.0 (24.0)

109

 (119)

Niue

24.0 (28.0)

143

 (87)

Haiti

22.0 (30.0)

109

 (170)

Sierra Leone

24.0 (24.0)

143

 (119)

Mali

22.0 (28.0)

109

 (171)

Sri Lanka

24.0 (24.0)

143

 (164)

Swaziland

22.0 (25.0)

109

 (119)

Turkmenistan

24.0 (28.0)

143

 (173)

Zimbabwe

22.0 (24.0)

124

 (101)

Nicaragua

23.9 (29.2)

149

 (155)

Cuba

21.8 (26.2)

125

 (94)

Trinidad and Tobago

23.8 (29.5)

149

 (143)

Uganda

21.8 (27.7)

Rankings from 151 to 198:

151

 (117)

Honduras

21.7 (28.2)

176

 (187)

Malawi

19.3 (22.7)

151

 (113)

Uruguay

21.7 (28.5)

176

 (119)

Seychelles

19.3 (28.0)

153

 (119)

Senegal

21.6 (28.0)

178

 (195)

Soloman Islands

19.0 (19.2)

154

 (119)

Guatemala

21.3 (28.0)

179

 (163)

Cameroon

17.9 (25.1)

155

 (149)

Paraguay

21.2 (26.7)

180

 (119)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

17.3 (28.0)

155

 (162)

Rwanda

21.2 (25.3)

181

 (175)

Bhutan

17.0 (24.0)

157

 (197)

Gabon

21.0 (16.0)

181

 (186)

Tanzania

17.0 (23.3)

158

 (164)

Grenada

20.3 (25.0)

183

 (190)

Lesotho

16.7 (21.7)

159

 (119)

Samoa

20.2 (28.0)

184

 (44)

Azerbaijan

16.0 (32.0)

160

 (181)

Angola

20.0 (24.0)

184

 (180)

Costa Rica

16.0 (24.0)

160

 (119)

Antigua and Barbados

20.0 (28.0)

184

 (182)

Equatorial Guinea

16.0 (24.0)

160

 (174)

Benin

20.0 (24.0)

184

 (80)

Micronesia

16.0 (30.5)

160

 (119)

Burundi

20.0 (28.0)

184

 (44)

Sao Tome and Principe

16.0 (32.0)

160

 (44)

Congo (Democratic Rep.)

20.0 (32.0)

184

 (191)

Suriname

16.0 (20.0)

160

 (40)

East Timor

20.0 (32.6)

184

 (172)

Tonga

16.0 (24.0)

160

 (187)

Guinea

20.0 (22.7)

184

 (191)

Vanuatu

16.0 (20.0)

160

 (103)

Guinea-Bissau

20.0 (29.0)

192

 (176)

Central Africa

12.0 (24.0)

160

 (160)

Kenya

20.0 (25.7)

192

 (183)

Eritrea

12.0 (24.0)

160

 (155)

Namibia

20.0 (26.2)

192

 (147)

Kiribati

12.0 (27.0)

160

 (158)

Niger

20.0 (26.0)

192

 (191)

Liberia

12.0 (20.0)

160

 (44)

Somaliland

20.0 (32.0)

192

 (197)

Nauru

12.0 (16.0)

160

 (44)

Syria

20.0 (32.0)

192

 (44)

Somalia

12.0 (32.0)

160

 (24)

Tajikistan

20.0 (34.0)

192

 (119)

Tuvalu

12.0 (28.0)

174

 (189)

Papau New Guinea

19.9 (22.4)

 

175

 (148)

Kyrgyzstan

19.4 (26.9)

 

 

In order to improve electronic government, the report suggests that governments undertake several steps to reach their full potential in terms of accessibility and effectiveness.  For example, sites for some nations include links that don’t work.  Other nations have links that take an incredibly long time to load or lead users to incorrect sites.

 

Many sites are under construction or have not been updated for long periods of time.  Designers should attempt to keep the sites as current as possible to ensure that all information presented is accurate and complete, the report suggests.  Furthermore, while many sites offered links to email addresses, several such links connected the visitor to an address of a webmaster as opposed to an actual government official.  This makes it difficult to communicate with members of their government.

 

Sites that offer A-to-Z indexes, provide a clear list of links to government agency or department web pages, or organize their online services by agency or function instead of one comprehensive list are much more navigable and user-friendly.  Encountering an intricate and convoluted portal makes users less likely to explore the site and be able to find desired information or online services. 

 

Websites that were bilingual or multi-lingual were helpful to facilitating accessibility, as long as the link actually took the user to the intended language.  Links which automatically reverted back to the original language frustrate those who use the translation service. 

 

Researchers found that well-developed Web sites help users explore and learn about the country.  The biggest impediments to investigating a government's site are lack of organization, cluttered portals, technical difficulties, and language barriers.  With some changes to the outline of the website, governments should be able to increase the accessibility and user-friendliness of their sites. 

 

For more information on this study, contact Professor Darrell M. West of Brown University at (401) 863-1163 or email Darrell_West@brown.edu.  The full Global E-Government Study is online at www.insidepolitics.org. The Appendix of that report presents detailed profiles of each of the 198 national governments around the world.