In its third year, the Government Services Index (GSI), published by The KPI Institute (TKI), continues its mission to contribute to the improvement of government service delivery standards worldwide, providing a comprehensive evaluation framework to enhance efficiency and service quality for citizens. 

The GSI 2024 aims to serve as a vital tool for policymakers by providing a benchmark for assessing public service performance across countries and offering insights into service delivery strengths and weaknesses, thereby guiding better decision-making. Researchers can also benefit from its comprehensive data for further studies. By highlighting top performers and identifying areas for improvement, it encourages governments to adopt innovative practices and prioritize citizen-centric approaches.

The Index not only highlights top-performing nations in each region and dimension but also reflects a meticulous development process to ensure its rigor and reliability. Extensive research involved analyzing over 100 scholarly articles and 40 global indices to identify critical areas of public service quality. Additionally, a comprehensive review of more than 900 indicators was conducted to select the most relevant and credible measures. By aligning the GSI with internationally recognized indicators, it provides a robust framework for comparing government services across diverse regions. 

Key dimensions of the GSI 2024

Covering 122 countries–expanding from 107 countries in the GSI 2023–across five world regions: America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East, the GSI 2024 incorporates data from 30 carefully chosen indicators aligned with its five key dimensions: 

• Future Readiness – the capability of government entities and institutions to adjust, innovate, and efficiently respond to the changing demands and challenges of future societies
• Digitalization – the significance of leveraging technology and transforming how citizens engage with public services
• Governance – fulfilling the government’s responsibility to create and execute policies that foster national development while upholding efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and integrity
• Society Welfare – the government’s initiatives to minimize inequalities and improve the quality of life for individuals and communities through various programs and policies
• Citizen Experience – the combination of interactions, perceptions, and experiences citizens have when engaging with government entities, including online platforms, in-person services, representative dealings, and civic participation

With its global reach and comprehensive methodology, the index empowers governments to enhance their services, ensuring they meet the dynamic needs of citizens in an ever-changing world by diving into the current performance of governments worldwide and providing a forward-looking assessment of their preparedness to tackle the challenges of 2025 and beyond.

Where do governments stand today?

In an era of rapid transformation driven by new technologies, emerging trends, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), governments worldwide are in continuous navigation of adapting to changes to deliver high-quality public services since societal needs are evolving as well. In the 2024 GSI, let’s explore a bit how governments are performing currently.

The Government Services Index (GSI) recognizes Finland, Denmark, and Singapore as the top three performers across five key dimensions of public service delivery, the same top-performing countries as in the GSI 2023. These countries are all classified as high-income, with two located in Europe and one in Asia and Oceania.

Finland ranks first globally in Governance (95.77) and Citizen Experience (96.31), while Singapore is the leader in Future Readiness (86.99). Denmark, though not ranking first in any specific area, excels in Digitalization (90.23) and Governance (95.70), securing second place in both. All three countries exceeded global and regional averages, with improved scores compared to the previous year.

The success of these nations can be attributed to their effective governance, advanced digitalization efforts, and comprehensive social policies. Citizens in these countries express strong confidence in their government’s ability to foster prosperity and improve well-being.

Finland is renowned for its transparent and inclusive governance that provides high-quality services, supporting employment, safety, and overall quality of life. The country’s focus on digitalization has minimized bureaucratic hurdles, which enables self-service and fostering a connected society. Furthermore, Finland upholds a human rights-centered foreign policy that promotes equality and prevents exclusion.

Offering efficient public services through advanced digital administration, Denmark stands out for its commitment to digitalization. Its government’s emphasis on digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, along with strategies that encourage democratic engagement and social inclusion, strengthens public service performance. Moreover, Denmark’s universal welfare model ensures equal access to essential services, effectively reducing inequality.

Singapore is recognized for its strategic planning and forward-thinking approach. The government prioritizes adaptability, introducing new policies to improve resilience. By investing in sustainability, digitalization, and future-ready skills, Singapore is capitalizing on growth opportunities and preparing its citizens for the future. The country’s citizen-centric governance ensures high-quality services and increasingly fosters active citizen participation.

To learn more about the detailed rankings, trends, and strategies shaping the future of government services, download the full free digital copy of the Government Services Index 2024 through the TKI Marketplace. An additional printed copy can be also purchased via Amazon. Get the report today!

The KPI Institute (TKI) released the Government Services Index (GSI) 2023, a comprehensive compilation of indicators designed to evaluate government service performance based on five key dimensions: Future Readiness, Digitalization, Governance, Society Welfare, and Citizen Experience, which are aligned with the collected data from 30 indicators.

The GSI 2023 report is the result of extensive research and analysis, drawing upon a diverse array of sources. Over 100 scholarly articles and 40 global indexes were reviewed to identify pertinent areas for assessing government service quality and the availability of global data. This rigorous process ensured that the report reflects the most relevant and up-to-date insights into the state of government services across different regions and sectors.

The GSI 2023 report has major implications for governance stakeholders worldwide. Policymakers can get insights into service delivery strengths and weaknesses, guiding them to better decision-making, while researchers may benefit from comprehensive data for further studies. Moreover, citizens might gain a better understanding of government service quality, empowering advocacy for positive change.

By examining data from 107 countries and five world regions, this report has identified the top performers in each dimension, shedding light on best practices and areas for improvement. In the GSI 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dominated the overall GSI ranking. The country placed first in Adaptability and Talent, third in Impact, and fourth in Governance and Digitalization. 

Has the UAE been able to maintain its position in 2023? Which countries are currently leading in each dimension?  Grab a copy now of the Government Services Index 2023 report and find out. For more information, visit https://kpiinstitute.org/government-services-index-2023/

Effective governance not only sets rules but also steers a nation toward a shared vision.  This is accomplished by creating a strategy aligned with citizens’ welfare and aspirations and ensuring progress at every step. Therefore, performance management plays a crucial role in measuring, evaluating, and improving the effectiveness of government initiatives and policies. 

The latest PERFORMANCE Magazine Print Edition, published by The KPI Institute (TKI), explores innovative ideas, best practices, case studies, agile approaches, and viewpoints about the use of key performance indicators, benchmarking, strategic planning and execution, and data analysis in the government sector. 

The magazine offers exclusive insights from interviews with performance management practitioners and experts in the government, addressing issues affecting government employees and citizens, like job loss and digital inequality. TKI’s consultants also share their perspectives on other performance management challenges, data empowerment, and digitalization. 

In the cover story, Michael Jacobson, the Deputy Director for Performance and Strategy at the King County Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget in the United States, dives deeper into government strategy and performance management, highlighting the roles of people, processes, and leadership in ensuring efficient and successful public service.

Furthermore, the In-depth section of the magazine delves into crucial aspects of organizational management, covering the newest trends and practices in how organizations formulate and execute strategies, enhance workforce performance, and leverage data for informed decision-making.

One of the edition’s highlights is the coverage of the performance management system maturity assessment conducted by the Global Performance Audit (GPA) Unit of The KPI Institute for the Talent and Performance Management Department of Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF).

PERFORMANCE Magazine’s Career Insights section presents stories and insights from seasoned performance management professionals in the government who shared their experiences in pursuing careers in public service. Additionally, the magazine shares valuable resources such as statistics, books, software, podcasts, and webinars.

Seize this opportunity to understand how strategy and performance management work in the government sector and gain lessons on leadership, strategic thinking, and adaptability. Grab a digital copy today of the PERFORMANCE Magazine Issue No. 27, 2023 – Government Edition through TKI Marketplace. You can also purchase the printed edition via Amazon. 

Explore how governments tackle new trends, models, actions, initiatives, and strategies.

New Zealand’s latest workforce data underscores diversity, fair pay

New Zealand’s “Public Service Workforce Data” for 2022, released by Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes, gives an overview of employment trends in the public sector. The report covers workforce numbers, ages, genders, ethnicities, occupations, incomes, and gender pay gaps. The data is collected from staff payroll records of all 37 Public Service departments. 

One of the report’s highlights is the increasing diversity in public service. There are now 13.4% of public servants who identify as Asian, up from 9.4% in 2017 and 3.3% in 2000. Another area examined by the report is generational shift. It is estimated that the average age of employees in the public sector is declining. After peaking at 44.8 years in 2015/16, it has dropped to 44.0 years.

Data shows there are now 55.8% of women in senior management roles, up from 53.5% last year and 39.8% in 2010. Meanwhile, the public service gender pay gap decreased to 7.7% from 8.6% in 2021. | Source: https://www.scoop.co.nz

UAE to enhance AI utilization in government services

The UAE government launched the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, with a goal to increase the digital economy’s contribution to the GDP from 9.7% to 19.4%. Over 30 initiatives and programs are included in the strategy, which targets six sectors as well as five new growth areas.

During a meeting in Dubai, Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said that the UAE Council for AI and Blockchain aims to create opportunities and foster collaboration between different departments. He also said that by adopting new technology and digitization solutions, the country would enhance its competitiveness and global leadership.

The AI Council discussed the implementation of artificial intelligence in critical sectors and ignited competitiveness among government entities. They also support the use of artificial intelligence as a working model and crucial tool in digital transactions in the fields of healthcare, energy, natural resources, blockchain, industry, transportation and logistics, and tourism. | Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com

Survey reveals what citizens look for in digital public services

In a 2022 survey conducted by Accenture, citizens from North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific cited “ease of use” and “confidence in data security and privacy” as the top factors when asked what would make them more likely to utilize digital services. The survey also found that those who depended more on public services were the largest segment supporting accelerated digital interactions.

“The best step forward to improve customer experiences is to establish simple and secure processes so people can get what they need on the first try,” said Eyal Darmon, Accenture’s global public sector customer engagement lead. 

In the same context, public servants surveyed said that their cyber-security training was insufficient. Only one-third of them claimed to be receiving regular training on cyber and data security. | Source: https://newsroom.accenture.com

Australia plans to reduce emissions by 81%

According to a report issued by Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) in 2022, clean technologies that are already in use in Australia, such as wind turbines and solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, electrolyzers, and electric cars with chargers, were determined to have the potential to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2030. The plan relies on increasing rollout rates of these six key technologies over the coming years.

“Our research shows Australians that emissions-cutting technologies are here, we’re using them and there’s no reason why they can’t be scaled up to help us cut emissions, create jobs, and lay the economic foundations for modern and competitive export industries,” said BZE chief executive, Heidi Lee. | Source: https://www.energymagazine.com.au

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To learn more about government performance, download The KPI Institute’s The Government Services Index 2022 for free here. For inquiries regarding the Index, contact Marcela Presecan, Head of Research:  [email protected], or +61 (390) 282 223.

Government performance looks different today due to the changes that took place in the world in the past two years. The 24th edition of Performance Magazine offers deep dives and practical insights into new developments, strategies, trends, and transformations in the public sector.

The issue highlights findings from The KPI Institute’s Government Service Index Report 2022, a pragmatic review of public service performance in the post-pandemic era that covers seven world regions, 66 countries, five dimensions, and 32 indicators.  The data were analyzed according to five dimensions: adaptability, talent, digitalization, governance, and impact.

In the cover story, “The future of public service: key trends in strategy and performance management,” Dr. Hisham Ahmad Kayali, a strategic and performance management specialist in the UAE, wrote about what the future of public services should look like. The other articles readers can find are:

• “How the COVID-19 pandemic shaped political governance”
• “Strategic approaches on the use of digital tools and data to improve the delivery of public value”
• “Web 3.0: the next frontier for e-government services”
• “The United Arab Emirates: the world’s leader in government services”
• “Making an impact: how the Netherlands promotes the general welfare”

The latest Performance Magazine also addresses today’s most pressing questions related to government performance: How can a motivational culture impact the performance of public servants? What is important in measuring the performance of public services? How can public entities better communicate strategies to citizens?

By drawing on The KPI Institute’s 19 years of experience in performance management, Performance Magazine provides its readers with prime resources, industry updates, interviews, case studies, expert recommendations, and global perspectives on strategy and performance management. The magazine covers strategy planning, strategy execution, employee performance, benchmarking, data analysis, and data visualization.

Readers can access industry updates and exclusive insights into becoming state-of-the-art professionals and high-performance organizations from subject matter experts, seasoned consultants, practitioners, business leaders, academicians, and research analysts.

To learn more about government performance, download the latest Performance Magazine for free via TKI Marketplace or order the print version from Amazon.

The Government Services Index Report –  2022  is a composite set of indicators that aims to capture the performance of governments in key areas of public service that drive resilience and high adaptability to change.

Through a thorough assessment of some of the most crucial aspects of good governance in the post-pandemic period, The KPI Institute releases the Government Services Index 2022. The report investigates the performance of governments in critical areas of public service that drive resilience and high adaptability to change through five key dimensions:

• Adaptability – the ability to easily adapt to change, respond to problems quickly and efficiently, and maintain resilience in a constantly changing environment.
• Talent –  attracting, retaining, and developing skills and knowledge in the public sector.
• Digitalization – the significance of rethinking citizen-public service interactions in light of technology.
• Governance – fulfilling governments’ obligations to develop and carry out policies that advance their nations’ development while demonstrating effectiveness, efficiency, openness, and integrity.
• Impact – ensuring that citizens of the nation have improved access to essential services and a higher quality of life.

The Government Services Index Report covers seven world regions, ranks  66 countries, and corroborates data from 32 indicators reflective of the aforementioned dimensions. 

Report Overview

• Preface
• Index Methodology
• Country Profiles

General Findings

• Global Leaders in Government Services
• Government Performance by Income Levels
• Regional Dashboards

Overview of Rankings

Adaptability

• General Outlook
• Global Overview of Indicators
• Regional Insights

Talent

• General Outlook
• Global Overview of Indicators
• Regional Insights

Digitalization

• General Outlook
• Global Overview of Indicators
• Regional Insights

Governance

• General Outlook
• Global Overview of Indicators
• Regional Insights

Impact

• General Outlook
• Global Overview of Indicators
• Regional Insights

Get your free copy of the Government Services Index 2022 today, from here! For inquiries regarding the Index, contact Marcela Presecan, Head of Research:  [email protected], or +61 (390) 282 223.