E-government around the world.

• Author: Swartz, Nikki
• Position: Up front: news, trends & analysis

Most of the world's nations have their own Web sites, but only 20 percent of people with Internet access use them, according to a 2003 U.N. World Report on the Public Sector.

"E-Government at the Crossroads" reveals that 173 of the United Nations' 191 members operated Web sites in 2003. In 2001, 143 nations had Web sites. Only 18 countries, mostly in Africa, remain completely off-line.

Among countries that have government Web sites, the United States led in e-government "readiness," or the amount of information, services, and products offered over the Internet combined with the infrastructure--such as telephones, computers, and Internet connections--needed to access them. Most Americans who use government Web sites do so to access tourism information, do research, download government forms, or get information on services.

Sweden ranked second in this category, followed by Australia, Denmark, Great Britain, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, and Finland.

In another ranking for "e-participation," or the government's willingness to interact and dialogue with citizens over the Internet, Great Britain beat the United States for the top spot. The rest of the list included New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, Chile, Estonia, the Philippines, Mexico, and Argentina.

Despite all the progress, only 15 governments in the world accept Internet comment on public policy issues, and only 33 allow government transactions, such as filing forms or paying flues online. Hong Kong's one-stop Electronic Service Delivery site, for example, allows citizens to do everything from paying taxes to renewing their driver's license online.

The report also noted that about 60 percent of all e-government projects in developing countries fail, and about half waste taxpayer money.

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