Singapore youth lead world in readiness to use AI tools

Young people in Singapore are the most prepared to use AI tools at work, in education and in daily life, according to a cross-country study comparing digital infrastructure and technical skills across more than 120 markets.

The analysis, published in a report on AI integration in everyday life, assessed factors that shape how easily younger populations can adopt AI-enabled services. Singapore ranked first overall, ahead of Germany and Finland.

The study combined six indicators into a single score intended to reflect both infrastructure and AI-related skills: an information and communication technology (ICT) ranking, internet penetration, the share of tertiary graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the state of digital infrastructure, and an AI preparedness measure.

Singapore led the top 10 with an ICT score of 97.7 and 36.3% of recent university graduates specialising in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Its AI Preparedness Index was 0.8.

Germany ranked second with an ICT score of 89.6 and internet use at 94% of the population. About one in five university graduates had degrees in technology and science subjects, and Germany scored close to Singapore on digital infrastructure development and AI preparedness among the top 10 countries.

Finland placed third and recorded the highest ICT score in the top 10 at 98.7. Its share of tertiary graduates in science and technology-related fields was 18.4%, and it was also rated as highly ready to adopt new tools in the labour market.

Estonia took fourth place with an ICT score of 98.5 and internet usage at 92%. Some 17.5% of graduates chose technology, sciences and mathematics-related fields. The report also highlighted Estonia's digital infrastructure score of 0.2, describing it as among the most developed in the world.

Austria ranked fifth, with an ICT score of 95.5 and internet use at 95%, the highest internet usage rate among the top five. It also had a larger share of young people studying science and technology than Estonia, and was described as adopting innovations such as digital payments and online platforms across parts of the economy and government.

Top 10 table

Outside the top five, Denmark ranked sixth with an ICT score of 97.9 and internet usage at 100%. Its share of tertiary graduates in science and technology fields was 12.9%.

Japan placed seventh with an ICT score of 93.6 and internet usage of 87%. New Zealand ranked eighth with an ICT score of 91.3 and internet usage of 96%. Israel took ninth with an ICT score of 93.4 and internet usage of 88%. Lithuania rounded out the top 10 with an ICT score of 95.3 and internet usage of 89%.

The rankings blend connectivity and infrastructure with measures of education and skills. High internet usage was common among the top performers, with most countries posting rates above 85%.

Several smaller, digitally focused European economies also featured prominently, reflecting the emphasis placed on infrastructure and ICT performance. Estonia, Lithuania, Finland and Denmark all scored highly on the ICT measure.

Singapore's top position reflected consistently high scores across categories, including a large share of graduates in science and technology fields and a high ICT score. Germany's ranking was supported by broad internet access and its graduation profile, while Finland's placement was driven by its ICT performance.

Consumer angle

The study was produced by iSharing, which publishes consumer-focused research alongside its location-sharing app, and analysed more than 120 countries.

A spokesperson linked the findings to how families use technology in everyday life.

"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 a spokesperson, iSharing.

The report also examines how far AI tools have become part of daily routines, and how that varies by country. It highlights the role of education pathways and basic connectivity in shaping adoption among younger people.

As consumer services add more AI features and workplaces expand the use of AI-enabled software, the report suggests the gap between countries with strong digital foundations and those without will remain a key factor in how quickly young people adopt new tools.