KATHMANDU: The United Nations (UN) has reported an improvement in Nepal’s standing in the E-Governance Development Index (EGDI), which is published biennially. Out of 193 countries, Nepal ranked 119th in 2024 with a score of 0.5781. This marks a six-place improvement from its 125th position in 2022.
However, Nepal remains in a weak position regarding electronic service delivery among South Asian countries. The UN study highlights that Nepal’s performance in digital service delivery lags behind most South Asian nations, except Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In the EGDI rankings, India stands at 62nd, Maldives at 94th, Sri Lanka at 98th, Bangladesh at 100th, Bhutan at 103rd, Nepal at 119th, Pakistan at 136th, and Afghanistan at 188th. The index evaluates countries based on their use of information and communication technology (ICT) in public service delivery. It assesses three key pillars: the quality of online services provided by government offices, telecommunications infrastructure, and the availability of skilled human resources.
The recently released “E-Government Survey 2024” from the UN notes that Bangladesh, Bhutan, Rwanda, Nepal, Cambodia, and Zambia have made significant strides in digital development among the least developed countries since 2022. It also emphasizes that being landlocked presents additional challenges for countries like Nepal, Rwanda, and Zambia in expanding digital services.
Despite Nepal’s improved ranking, the country still lags in leveraging digital technology for public service delivery. In the E-Participation Index, which assesses the effectiveness of online public service delivery, Nepal ranks 152nd, underscoring the challenges ahead. Nepal’s highest-ever ranking and score in the EGDI came in 2018, when it ranked 117th.
During the 2015 earthquake, the use of digital technologies such as drones for damage assessment highlighted improvements in e-governance. However, by 2020, Nepal dropped 15 places to 132nd, recovering to 125th in 2022. Initiatives like the Digital Nepal Framework and the Nagarik App were recognized in past reports for their contributions to Nepal’s digital governance.
Although Nepal’s score has improved this year, it still falls short of the global average of 0.6382, indicating the need for further action. According to the UN, Denmark continues to lead the world in e-governance, while Somalia remains at the bottom of the index.