The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The latest published global comparison available as of October 7, 2026, is the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024. It does not name one “best” country: it places 46 countries in its top band, Tier 1, for national cybersecurity commitment. The index measures government commitments and capabilities, not how safe residents are from successful cyberattacks.
Which countries are in the top cybersecurity tier?
The ITU’s GCI 2024 assigns countries to five tiers rather than publishing a strict first-to-last ranking. Tier 1, labelled “Role-modelling,” covers scores from 95 to 100. The 46 countries in that tier are:
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Korea (Republic of)
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Viet Nam
These countries share the top score band; the ITU’s format does not establish which one is best among them.
What does the Global Cybersecurity Index measure?
The GCI assesses national commitment across five pillars: legal measures, technical measures, organizational measures, capacity development, and cooperation. Its overall score is a weighted average of countries’ activities across those areas. The index is intended as a snapshot of national commitment and a guide to improvement, not as a direct measure of attack frequency, successful breaches, or the safety of an individual’s devices and accounts. See the ITU’s GCI 2024 report for its methodology and results.
#1 Best Overall
What the 2024 figures do—and do not—show
The ITU assessed 194 countries using data collected in 2023–2024. The report’s global average country score was 65.7 out of 100, and average overall scores had grown 27% since 2020. Those figures refer to the index’s commitment scores; the 27% increase does not mean cyberattacks fell by that amount or that people became 27% safer.
The report also found that 132 countries had a national cybersecurity strategy and 139 had active computer incident response teams (CIRTs). These are indicators of national structures and activity, not proof that every strategy or response team is equally effective.
Why isn’t there an official 2026 ranking?
As of October 7, 2026, the GCI 2024 is the latest published ITU global assessment identified. The ITU says data collection for its sixth edition has not started, so a claim that the ITU has published a 2026 GCI ranking would be inaccurate. The GCI 2024 data itself was collected in 2023–2024, not in 2026.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteITU Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava captured the distinction between activity and results in the report’s foreword: “However, while the rise in cybersecurity initiatives is encouraging, a crucial next step for Member States lies in ensuring that these efforts are effective.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should you compare countries beyond the top tier?
A country’s tier or overall score is only a starting point. Two countries with similar totals can have different strengths across the five pillars, and the ITU says the GCI does not measure the quality or impact of each country’s activities. The index complements output measures such as cyberattacks and vulnerabilities rather than replacing them.
- Check the edition and date: distinguish the report’s publication year from the period when its evidence was collected.
- Look at the pillars: compare legal, technical, organizational, capacity-development, and cooperation results rather than assuming similar totals mean similar capabilities.
- Identify what is being measured: national policy commitment is different from observed attack outcomes or personal online safety.
- Keep other indexes separate: do not combine a live ranking with an older index’s tiers as though they were one official comparison.
Using the National Cyber Security Index
The National Cyber Security Index (NCSI), maintained by e-Governance Academy, is a separate resource that is updated continuously using publicly available evidence. Its country pages state when they were last updated, so check and report that date when consulting it. The NCSI’s FAQ also notes that its ordering of GCI 2024 scores is calculated by e-Governance Academy; the ITU does not endorse that ordering as an alternative comparison. Treat an NCSI position as an NCSI result, not an ITU ranking.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
