Methodology

Internet affordability determines how long people have to work to afford a stable internet connection. The internet’s affordability directly impacts its accessibility. A more affordable internet positively affects digital wellbeing, while low affordability has a negative effect.

Indicator 1: Work time it takes to afford the cheapest mobile internet (seconds) — 50% weight of the pillar

We determined the factor value of mobile internet affordability by dividing the price of the cheapest mobile data package by the average hourly wage in a specific country. Then, we derived the index value by dividing the value of the most affordable mobile data package globally by the country’s mobile internet affordability value. It was then multiplied by 0.5 to weigh it in the internet affordability pillar, which consists of two indicators.

In the DQL'23 edition, the mobile internet price data source was changed from cable.co to ITU — the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies — to compare mobile vs. fixed internet pricing more accurately. Cable.co pricing includes not only 1GB of mobile data but also texts and voice calls, while ITU gives data-only broadband mobile package pricing (minimum speed of a broadband connection is 256Kbps, relying on 3G technologies or above).

Indicator 2: Work time it takes to afford the cheapest fixed internet (minutes) — 50% weight of the pillar

We determined the factor value of fixed internet affordability by dividing the lowest fixed internet package price by the average hourly wage in a specific country. Then, we derived the index value by dividing the value of the most affordable fixed internet package globally by the factor value. It was then multiplied by 0.5 to weigh it in the internet affordability pillar, which consists of two indicators.

Internet quality measures how fast the internet is and how low the latency is, which is the time delay between a user's action and the response from a network server. Fast speed and low-latency connections allow for better communication, high-quality content, and more. In the DQL’25 edition, latency was introduced as a new indicator for both mobile and fixed internet, replacing the previously used indicators of internet stability and speed growth.

Indicator 3: Mobile internet speed (Mbps)

To index global mobile internet speed, we first took the 12-month average of the mean monthly download speed in any specific country from April 2024 to April 2025. We then divided it by the highest global yearly average download speed value and weighted it by 0.25.

Indicator 4: Fixed internet speed (Mbps)

We measured the fixed internet speed index in the same way as the mobile internet speed index.

In the DQL'21 edition, the source for fixed internet speed data was changed from cable.co to speedtest.net, as mobile internet speed is collected from speedtest.net.

Indicator 5: Mobile internet latency (ms)

To index global mobile internet latency, we calculated the 12-month average of the mean monthly latency for each country from April 2024 to April 2025. We then divided this figure by the highest global yearly average latency value and weighted it by 0.25.

Indicator 6: Fixed internet latency (ms)

We measured the fixed internet latency index in the same way as mobile internet latency.

Digital infrastructure determines how well-developed and inclusive a country’s digital infrastructure is. Highly functional digital infrastructure enables people to use the internet daily for many purposes, such as studying, e-commerce, entertainment, banking, etc.

Indicator 7: Individuals using the internet (per 100 inhabitants) — 50% weight of the pillar

We derived the internet use factor by dividing the number of individuals using the internet in a specific country by the number of individuals using the internet in the country with the highest value. Then, the factor was weighted by 0.5 as one of the two indicators of the digital infrastructure pillar.

In the DQL'21 edition, the source for individuals using the internet data was changed from the UN to Internet World Stats to have the latest data. In the DQL’24 edition, the source was again changed to ITU since the previous source is no longer updated.

Indicator 8: Network readiness

The Network Readiness Index (NRI) was determined by weighing the NRI value from the Portulans Institute — which hosted the Digital Transformation Dialogue Series — by 0.5. The NRI aims to evaluate how ready a country is to take advantage of the opportunities provided by information and communications technologies.

In the DQL'21 edition, the network readiness index data source was changed from the World Economic Forum to Portulans Institute to have the latest data.

Digital security measures how safe people are online. Digital security shows a country’s readiness to counter cybercrimes and its commitment to protecting online privacy.

Indicator 9: Cybersecurity (index)

To account for cybersecurity in the examined countries, the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI), developed by the e-Governance Academy Foundation, was used for its viability and the extent of data inclusivity. The NCSI index was weighted by 0.5 as one of the two indicators of the digital security pillar.

In the DQL'21 edition, the source for cybersecurity index data was changed from ITU to NCSI to have the latest data.

Indicator 10: Data protection laws (indexed value)

In the DQL’25 edition, we indexed the data protection laws indicator by assigning a value from 0 to 4 depending on the existence and completeness of legislation regarding personal data protection in a country. Data protection quality was benchmarked against the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation as the best personal data protection legislation example.

We assigned the values in the following order: 0 — no specific laws or data (none); 1 — some data protection law(s); 2 — independent authority and law(s), 3 — partially adequate laws, 4 — GDPR-level data protection or adequate laws. Before the DQL'25 edition, GDPR data protection and adequate laws were assigned distinct values of 5 and 4, respectively. However, since countries with adequate laws provide a level of data protection recognized by the EU, these two categories have been merged into one. To index the assigned values, we divided them by the highest value of data protection (4) and weighted them by 0.5.

In the DQL'21 edition, the source for data protection level was changed from Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) to UNCTAD and back to CNIL in 2022 to have the latest data.

Artificial intelligence (AI) reflects a country's development in the landscape of artificial intelligence, demonstrating its attractiveness for AI investments and readiness to integrate AI into public services. AI's transformative potential enhances the efficiency of public services and helps people save time, influencing the quality of their digital lives.

Indicator 11: AI investment potential (index)

AI investment potential was derived by dividing the AI Investment Potential Index (AIIPI) value from the Agence Française de Développement by the highest AI investment potential global score and weighting it by 0.5. This indicator reflects how attractive a country is for AI investments.

Indicator 12: AI readiness (index)

AI readiness indicates a country’s capacity to harness artificial intelligence’s potential and efficiency. The indicator was created using the Government Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index 2024, developed by Oxford Insights and the International Development Research Centre. The index was normalized to fit the DQL logic by dividing a country’s AI readiness score by the highest AI readiness global score and weighting it by 0.5.