A new April 2026 report by Digitain has ranked Uruguay as the most resilient country in the world against cyberattacks, underscoring how smaller economies with strong governance and targeted investments can outperform larger nations in cybersecurity preparedness.

The findings come at a time when cybercrime is estimated to cost the global economy over $1 trillion annually, with artificial intelligence significantly amplifying the scale and sophistication of attacks. The study evaluated countries based on cyber threat exposure, AI adoption rates, digital infrastructure, government cybersecurity policies, and broader innovation indicators.

Uruguay leads the ranking with just 2.3 per cent cyber threat exposure, meaning nearly 98 per cent of its devices are protected from malware, ransomware, and other digital threats. The country’s success is largely driven by robust regulatory frameworks, scoring 80.8 out of 100 in cybersecurity governance, alongside steady adoption of AI-based security tools across enterprises. Strict compliance requirements and proactive national policies have created a strong defensive baseline.

Qatar and Bulgaria follow in second and third positions, each safeguarding around 95 per cent of their systems. Qatar’s high GDP per capita of over $71,000 enables significant investment in cybersecurity infrastructure and rapid AI adoption, with nearly 40 per cent of companies deploying AI tools. Bulgaria, despite lower income levels, matches this performance through stringent cybersecurity regulations and growing enterprise-level AI integration, demonstrating that policy strength can offset budget constraints.

In fourth place, Switzerland combines high digital maturity with strong defensive systems, limiting exposure to 6.7 per cent. However, its wealth and concentration of financial institutions also make it a prime target for sophisticated cybercriminals, necessitating continuous investment in advanced firewalls and automated threat detection systems.

France rounds out the top five, achieving the highest National Cyber Security Index score (89/100). With 44 per cent of companies adopting AI for cybersecurity, France is among the leaders in automated threat detection, supported by strong public-sector funding and coordinated national strategies.

The top 10 list also includes New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and the United States. While these countries demonstrate strong resilience, their slightly higher exposure levels reflect the complexity of securing large, highly digitised economies.

The report also highlights digital literacy as a critical factor in cyber resilience. The UK and US scored 85/100, indicating that user awareness plays a key role in identifying phishing scams and preventing breaches, often the first entry point for cyberattacks.

According to a cybersecurity expert from Digitain, the rise of AI has dramatically altered the threat landscape. “Cybercrime is now among the top 20 largest industries globally. AI enables attackers to launch thousands of simultaneous attacks, allowing even a single hacker to target hundreds of organisations by automatically scanning for weak passwords or outdated systems,” the expert noted.

The study concludes that countries combining strong governance, advanced AI adoption, high digital literacy, and resilient infrastructure are best positioned to counter next-generation cyber threats. As AI continues to evolve, the global cybersecurity race is expected to intensify, with proactive investment and cross-sector collaboration becoming essential to maintaining digital resilience.