Singapore, Germany, Finland lead youth AI readiness ranks

Singapore, Germany and Finland top a new international ranking of countries where young people appear most ready to use artificial intelligence tools. The comparison draws on measures of digital infrastructure, internet access, and science and technology education.

The analysis, published by family safety app iSharing, assessed more than 120 countries using indicators linked to technology adoption and skills development. Singapore ranked first overall, followed by Germany and Finland. Estonia and Austria rounded out the top five.

The ranking highlights factors that shape how easily people can access and use AI tools in everyday life, including study choices among recent graduates and national measures of digital connectivity. iSharing combined infrastructure and skills indicators into a single score.

How the ranking works

The study used six inputs it describes as common influences on technological development and education. They included an information and communication technology (ICT) ranking, internet penetration, the share of tertiary graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), measures of digital infrastructure, and an AI preparedness metric.

The resulting score reflects both the conditions for accessing AI and the level of technical training among young adults. It does not measure adoption of specific AI products or the regulatory environment for AI use, though it broadly aligns with other measures of digital development.

Top performers

Singapore's top ranking reflected a high ICT score and a large share of graduates in technical subjects. In the study figures, Singapore recorded an ICT score of 97.7 and 36.3% of tertiary graduates in STEM. Internet usage was listed at 94% of the population.

Germany ranked second with an ICT score of 89.6 and 20.9% of tertiary graduates in STEM. Internet usage was listed at 94%. Its overall score also reflected digital infrastructure and AI preparedness measures included in the model.

Finland placed third and recorded the highest ICT score in the top 10 at 98.7, according to the dataset. Finland's share of tertiary STEM graduates was listed at 18.4%, with internet usage at 94%.

Estonia came fourth. The report described it as having one of the most developed digital infrastructures among countries assessed. Estonia's ICT score was listed at 98.5, with 17.5% of tertiary graduates in STEM and internet usage at 92%.

Austria ranked fifth. The figures put internet usage at 95%, the highest among the top five. Austria's ICT score was listed at 95.5, with 17.6% of tertiary graduates in STEM.

Rest of the top 10

The remaining top 10 countries were Denmark, Japan, New Zealand, Israel and Lithuania. Denmark's internet usage was listed at 100%. Japan and Israel showed high internet penetration at 87% and 88% respectively. Lithuania placed 10th with an ICT score of 95.3 and internet usage of 89%.

The dataset suggests different paths to high scores. Some countries ranked strongly on connectivity and ICT measures, while others combined broad access with a higher share of graduates in technical fields.

Education and infrastructure

Across the leading countries, higher rankings were associated with established digital networks, widespread internet access and higher education pathways-particularly the share of graduates in science and technology disciplines.

Singapore stood out on that measure, with more than a third of graduates in STEM. Germany was closer to one in five, while Finland, Estonia and Austria were in the high teens.

These differences matter because graduate pipelines shape workforce familiarity with technical concepts and software tools. In the scoring model, however, this was treated as part of a broader readiness picture rather than a direct measure of AI use.

Company perspective

iSharing, which makes a location-sharing app aimed at family safety, linked the ranking to how households adopt digital services and safety technology.

“Children growing up in these countries aren't just comfortable with technology, they're fluent with it, and it can help their parents a lot. An entire generation is being trained to navigate digital and AI tools the way previous generations learned to drive. The parents in these digitally advanced countries also adopt safety technology faster because their kids already understand how it works and what it's for. When a 14-year-old can update the app or set up their own safe zones without help, that contributes a lot to family safety,” said an iSharing spokesperson.

The company expects interest in AI readiness metrics to grow as workplaces and education systems integrate AI tools into routine tasks and curricula.