Sweden tops global Web Index of online freedom and access

Sweden has topped the annual Web Index which looks at how the Web empowers people and delivers socio-economic impact.

The World Wide Web Foundation's annual Web Index placed the Scandinavian nation in the top spot for the second year in a row.

It was followed by Norway, the U.K. and the U.S. The Philippines is the highest-ranked developing country.

Anne Jellema, the foundation's CEO, told the New York Daily News, said that countries that top the Web Index perform well on all index dimensions.

Jellema added that their citizens can get online easily and cheaply, content serves their needs, rights to privacy and free expression are protected, and innovation is encouraged.

According to the report, British computer scientist Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web and founder of the organization, launched the survey to create a comprehensive picture of the Web's role in national development and individual empowerment.

This year's index ranked 81 countries.

Jellema explained that many of the top-ranking countries have laws and policies that enable access to the Web and protect its freedom.

The index's top ten countries are as follows:

1. Sweden

2. Norway

3. United Kingdom

4. United States

5. New Zealand

6. Denmark

7. Finland

8. Iceland

9. France

10.