They're breaking out the vodka in Helsinki to celebrate Finland's latest high-tech coup. The country tops the United Nations' technology-achievement index, a new ranking that measures overall technology creation and use. The United Stated placed second, followed by a second Nordic country, Sweden.
The ranking weighs factors like Internet access, technology patents, and science-student populations; it doesn't measure global leadership or "technological might." But if Uncle Sam still needs an ego boost, there's always the U.N. ranking of leading high-tech exporters. America leads the way in that category, while Finland trails behind at No. 20.
Here are the top 10 countries, according to the U.N.'s achievement index:
- Finland
- United States
- Sweden
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Netherlands
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
- Singapore