India ranks 56 in global Web Index of online freedom and access

India has been ranked 56 out of 81 countries in the annual Web Index, which looks at how the Web empowers people and delivers socio-economic impact.

Pakistan was ranked 6th in the list, showing the poor level of contribution the country has made to development and human rights.

The Web Index is the world's first measure of the World Wide Web's contribution to development and human rights globally.

Scores are given in the areas of access; freedom and openness; relevant content; and empowerment.

According to the report, first released in 2012, the 2013 Index has been expanded and refined to include 20 new countries and features an enhanced data set, particularly in the areas of gender, Open Data, privacy rights and security.

Sweden 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 US The Philippines is the highest-ranked developing country.

The bottom ten countries are as follows:

1. Vietnam

2. Burkina Faso

3. Malawi

4. Rwanda

5. Cameroon

6. Pakistan

7. Zimbabwe

8. Mali

9. Ethiopia