The Web Index is about how the internet affects our lives. By scoring 86 countries on access, freedom, relevance, and empowerment, it creates a meaningful measure of internet inequality. The report finds that, depending on where you live, the web can be a tool for progress or censorship.

Findings from the report are mixed. While high-income countries have vastly expanded internet usage and reaped the rewards of greater connectivity, in low-income countries, usage remains around 10% at the time of publication. 84% of the countries in the Index also failed tests for basic privacy safeguards.

The report also looks at usage through the lens of gender inequality, specifically at a country's commitment to prosecuting online gender-based violence, and providing access to information on reproductive health rights and services.

Affecting policy through data

In addition to the report, the Web Index includes detailed findings that break down each factor contributing to a country's score.

Using this tool, researchers and policy-makers can hone in on a specific topic, evaluate a country compared to its peers, and arrive at more informed decisions.

Working for an Open Web

We believe a healthy internet is an open one, and we continue to advocate for any work that contributes to a more equal, accessible web. We are proud to have worked with the World Wide Web Foundation on the 2014 Web Index.