Australia rises to second globally in the OECD Digital Government Index
Australia's OECD digital government ranking validates current APS governance frameworks - including AI policy - as internationally competitive.
Key points
- Australia ranked 2nd of 42 countries in the OECD 2025 Digital Government Index with a score of 88%.
- The AI Plan for the APS and the Policy for Responsible Use of AI are cited as contributors to the 'Proactiveness' dimension score.
- AI governance is one thread in a broader digital government result; the item is primarily a DTA achievement announcement.
Implications for Australian agencies
- Monitor Policy teams may want to monitor the full OECD Digital Government Index findings when released later in 2026 for more granular benchmarking data.
- Consider Agencies developing AI strategy or governance materials could consider referencing Australia's OECD ranking as contextual evidence of the maturity of whole-of-government AI governance settings.
Implications are AI-generated. Starting points, not advice — see methodology for how they're framed.
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Weekly digest, 16 February 2026
"Australia rises to second globally in the OECD Digital Government Index"
Source: Digital Transformation Agency
Published: 16 February 2026
URL: https://www.dta.gov.au/articles/australia-rises-second-globally-oecd-digital-government-index
The DTA has announced Australia's rise to 2nd place globally in the OECD's 2025 Digital Government Index, up from 5th in 2023, with an overall score of 88% across 42 countries. The index assesses digital by design, user-driven approaches, government as a platform, and proactiveness. Australia's improved 'Proactiveness' score - from 7th to 5th - is partly attributed to the APS AI Plan and the Policy for the Responsible Use of AI in Government. DTA notes forthcoming priorities including the AI technical standard and generative AI guidance. Full OECD findings are scheduled for later in 2026.
Implications for Australian agencies:
- [Monitor] Policy teams may want to monitor the full OECD Digital Government Index findings when released later in 2026 for more granular benchmarking data.
- [Consider] Agencies developing AI strategy or governance materials could consider referencing Australia's OECD ranking as contextual evidence of the maturity of whole-of-government AI governance settings.
Retrieved from SIMS, 18 July 2026.