Analysis of over 276 million broadband speed tests by the Worldwide Speed League has revealed which countries boasted the fastest internet speeds in 2020.
Gathered by M-Lab and compiled by Cable.co.uk, the Worldwide Speed League is an open source project with contributors ranging from civil organizations to educational institutions and private companies. With this being the fourth consecutive year the group has compiled its research, the League has been remarkably successful in showing which countries offer the fastest internet speeds and how those speeds relate to tasks like downloading a 5GB movie.
Cloud-managed networks: The secret to success
Discover how a simple, smart and secure network enhances productivity and drives business growth
Chris Ritzo, program management and community lead at M-Lab commented on the 2020 list, remarking that, "Cable.co.uk's annual internet speed ranking using M-Lab data is a great example of open data being used to encourage public understanding of broadband speeds people receive around the world. Average speed rankings by country are a great starting point, and are a great starting point for deeper research and statistical analysis of the state of broadband using M-Lab's global broadband measurement datasets."
When it came to generating the list, Cable.co.uk analyzed data collected by M-Lab. M-Lab’s research included data on internet speeds in 207 countries and territories. Of those tested, 29 of the 50 countries with the fastest internet speeds are located in Europe, six are in the Asia-Pacific region, and seven are in the Caribbean.
An interactive map, along with further insights and downloadable versions of M-Lab’s data set can be found on the Worldwide Speed League’s website. For now, here’s an inside look at the 16 countries with the fastest internet speeds.
1. Liechtenstein
Mean download speed: 229.98Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 2 minutes, 58 seconds
Earning itself the top spot on this year’s list is Liechtenstein. Boasting a mean download speed of 29.98Mbps, downloading a 5GB movie in this Western European country takes a mere 2 minutes and 58 seconds. In comparison, downloading the same movie in South Sudan, the country with the slowest internet, takes upward of 19.5 hours.
2. Jersey
Mean download speeds: 218.37Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 3 minutes, 8 seconds
For those living on the coasts of Jersey, downloading a 5GB movie takes just over 3 minutes. With a mean download speed of 218.37Mbps, Jersey has found itself steadily climbing the worldwide internet speed list. The small country finds itself in second place this year, it sat at 3rd place just a year ago.
3. Andorra
Mean download speed: 213.41Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 3 minutes, 12 seconds
Climbing the ranks among this year’s list is Andorra. While it came in at 12th place on last year’s list, the European country has found itself at No. 3 on the list this year with a mean download speed of 213.41Mbps.
4. Gibraltar
Mean download speed: 183.09Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 3 minutes, 44 seconds
Gibraltar is another rising star in the world of fast internet speeds. It rings in at 183.09Mbps, putting it No. 4 on our list of fastest internet speeds in the world. At that pace, you can download a 5 GB movie in just 3 minutes, 44 seconds.
5. Luxembourg
Mean download speed: 118.05Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 5 minutes, 47 seconds
With a mean download speed of 118.05 Mbps, Luxembourg’s internet is the fifth-fastest in the world. This speed allows folks in the European country to download a 5GB movie in 5 minutes, 47 seconds.
6. Iceland
Mean download speed: 116.88Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 5 minutes, 50 seconds
Iceland... yes, Iceland, rings in at No. 6 on our list at a blazing 116.88Mbps, which allows users to download a 5GB movie in just 5 minutes, 50 seconds.
7. Switzerland
Mean download speed: 110.45Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 6 minutes, 11 seconds
Landing itself in the seventh spot on our list of countries with the fastest internet speeds is Switzerland — a two-spot improvement over last year. With a mean download speed of 110.45Mbps, those in Switzerland will have to sit tight for 6 minutes, 11 seconds when downloading a 5GB movie.
8. Hong Kong
Mean download speed: 105.32 Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 6 minutes, 29 seconds
We finally venture out of Europe and south to Asia where Hong Kong comes in at No. 8 on our list. This small Asian country offers a mean download speed of 105.32 Mbps, allowing users to download a 5GB movie in just 6 minutes, 29 seconds.
9. Monaco
Mean download speed: 104.98Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 6 minutes, 30 seconds
Back to Europe we go, as Western Europe's Monaco comes in at ninth on our list of the fastest internet speeds in the world. Monaco offers a media download speed of 104.98Mbps, which allows users to download a 5GB movie in just 6 minutes, 30 seconds -- one second slower than in Hong Kong.
10. Hungary
Mean download speed: 99.74Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 6 minutes, 51 seconds
Craving for fast internet speeds? Hungary will satisfy your appetite with a mean download speed of 99.74Mbps. This allows users to download a 5GB video in just 6 minutes, 51 seconds.
11. Netherlands
Mean download speed: 95.60 Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 7 minutes, 8 seconds
While the Netherlands may be small, the country has a mean download speed of 95.60Mbps. This translates to a 5GB movie download taking just over 7 minutes.
12. Aruba
Mean download speed: 89.81Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 7 minutes, 36 seconds
With beautiful beaches and glorious weather, who needs the internet? Aruba, obviously. This island country in the Caribbean checks in with an impressive 89.81 Mbps mean download speed, allowing users to download a 5GB video in just 7 minutes, 36 seconds.
Talk about up and coming, Aruba ranked 54th last year at just 15.15Mbps.
13. Malta
Mean download speed: 87.36Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 7 minutes, 49 seconds
Europe just can't stay off our list, as Malta, which is in Western Europe, chacks in with a blazing 87.36Mbps mean download speed. This allows users to download a 5GB movie in just 7 minutes, 49 seconds.
14. Denmark
Mean download speed: 85.03Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 8 minutes, 2 seconds
Denmark boasts the 14th-fastest internet speeds in the world. With a mean download speed of 85.03Mbps, those in Denmark can download a 5GB movie in 8 minutes, 2 seconds.
15. Aland Islands
Mean download speed: 81.31Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 8 minutes, 24 seconds
With a mean download speed of 81.31Mbps, downloading a 5GB movie in Aland Islands, an autonomous region of Finland, takes just 8 minutes, 24 seconds. Regardless, the US improved its internet speeds since last year’s list, when the U.S. came in with a speed of 25.85Mbps.
16. Sweden
Mean download speed: 81.29Mbps
Time to download a 5GB movie: 8 minutes, 24 seconds
Ah, Sweden. Ikea and Swedish meatballs aren’t all you have to offer. Boasting a mean download speed of 81.29Mbps, those in Sweden will wait just under 8.5 minutes when downloading their favorite 5GB Friday night flick.
Sweden saw huge speed gains from last year's 55.18Mbps, but so did many other countries, dropping it 11 spots this year.
Where the US and UK Rank
Two countries oddly lacking on this list are the US and UK. Neither one made the 2020 list of the faster internet speeds, despite the US being No. 16 last year.
The US rang in at 71.30Mbps and 9 minutes, 34 seconds to download a 5GB movie. This placed it No. 20 on the list of fastest internet speeds.
The UK tumbled from 35 last year to 47 this year with its 37.82Mbps speeds. At this pace, it would take a user 18 minutes, 3 seconds to download a 5 GB video.
