Uganda fell nine places to 107th (14th in Africa) in the 2023 Digital Quality of Life Index from 98th in 2022. The Digital Quality of Life (DQL) Index is a comprehensive study that provides a deep dive into the various elements that shape a nation’s digital well-being. It serves as a critical tool for identifying areas that require immediate attention and future enhancement to improve the digital experience of citizens.
The fifth edition of the DQL Index presents a unique lens through which to view a country’s digital quality of life. It does so by examining five key pillars: the affordability and quality of Internet services, the robustness of electronic infrastructure, the strength of electronic security measures, and the efficiency of electronic government services.
The DQL Index is a product of independent research conducted by Surfshark, a leading cybersecurity firm that offers a broad spectrum of privacy solutions. Surfshark’s cybersecurity tools are provided by Surfshark B.V., a company registered in the Netherlands. The company, which was established in Lithuania in 2018, is committed to enhancing digital security and privacy.
The importance of the DQL Index cannot be overstated. In an increasingly digital world, the quality of digital life directly impacts the overall quality of life. It affects everything from access to information and services to the ability to participate in the digital economy, to the level of trust in digital systems.
“In many nations, ‘digital quality of life’ has merged into the broader concept of overall ‘quality of life’. There’s no other way to look at it now that so many daily activities, including work, education, and leisure, are done online. That’s why it’s crucial to pinpoint the areas in which a nation’s digital quality of life thrives and where attention is needed, which is the precise purpose of the DQL Index,” says Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske, Surfshark’s spokeswoman.
Uganda’s best performance came in electronic security where we were 81st out of 121 countries. However, this was a drop from the 66th position in 2022. Our worst performance came in internet affordability, where we were ranked 116th.
In Africa, the top country was South Africa (ranked 72nd in the world), Morocco (75th) and Kenya (76th). Mauritius (80th) and Tunisia (83rd) round off the top 5. Globally, France was the top-ranked country, ahead of Finland, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg.