Global Insights: Iceland Tops Internet Resilience Index for 2024

Iceland Leads the Way in Internet Resilience Rankings

Iceland has once again secured the top position in the Pulse Internet Resilience Index (IRI) for 2024, achieving an impressive score of 84 out of 100. This marks a 4-point gain for the Scandinavian nation, tying as the highest improvement in Europe since the last ranking update. These advancements have been attributed to notable improvements in mobile performance and increased resilience against security vulnerabilities. The IRI is a robust metric evaluating global Internet resilience based on factors such as infrastructure, security, fixed and mobile performance, and market readiness, all of which contribute to a country’s Internet robustness amidst technological, environmental, and market-related pressures.

Globally, Internet resilience has shown a positive trend, increasing by 1 point compared to the previous year and by 3 points since 2019. This growth has primarily been driven by advancements in Internet security and performance, even as metrics such as infrastructure and market readiness have shown slight declines. Notably, nine European countries maintained their positions among the global top ten, while Singapore secured the fourth spot overall. In specific regions, Australia (17th), Canada (18th), Mauritius (35th), and Chile (36th) ranked as leaders in Oceania, North America, Africa, and South America, respectively.

Global Trends in Internet Resilience

The 2024 Pulse IRI findings illustrate a mixed bag of advancements and challenges in Internet resilience worldwide. Of the 180 countries assessed, 112 saw resilience scores increase by 1 to 7 points, with Africa showing the most significant progress. Rwanda experienced the largest single-country increase with a 7-point gain, attributed to its DNSSEC validation rate skyrocketing from 23% to 80%, alongside improvements in affordability and performance. Nepal and Trinidad and Tobago also recorded 6-point increases, which reflect significant strides in improving their Internet ecosystems.

Conversely, some nations experienced declines, with the Central African Republic notably falling by 7 points, followed by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (-6), Venezuela, and Vanuatu (-4 each). Many of the struggles faced by these countries underscore the difficulties Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) face in fostering robust Internet systems. Geographical isolation, limited economic resources, and susceptibility to external disruptions often hinder growth, further amplifying disparities in Internet development and resilience when compared to more developed regions.

Empowering Nations Through the Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Developed by the Internet Society, the Pulse IRI serves as a valuable tool for policymakers, researchers, and advocates, providing detailed insights into the critical components of Internet resilience. The methodology integrates composite and proxy measurements to offer a balanced evaluation of Internet health. For countries struggling with lower rankings, the IRI offers actionable findings. For example, encouraging local ISPs to adopt DNSSEC validation or implementing policies to promote a diverse ISP market could improve Internet security and system robustness.

Interestingly, more than half of the SIDS and LLDCs measured showed resilience increases for 2024, offering a glimpse of hope. However, their fragile progress signals the importance of continuous investment in infrastructure and system diversity to counteract vulnerabilities. As resilience efforts deepen, opportunities emerge for nations to prioritize collaborative efforts and innovative policies that enhance their global Internet standing. Stay tuned for further analysis and updates as the IRI team delves deeper into the evolving trends in Internet resilience over the past five years.