A report by the Switzerland-based World Economic Forum for the year 2011-12 says that many Asian countries have better and more modern infrastructure than the United States.

Hampered by an almost unmanageable level of debt and other financial constraints, the once-awesome infrastructure in America is showing signs of neglect and deterioration and other nations are slowly but steadily overtaking the US.

The United States has slipped alarmingly on the list infrastructure systems compiled by the WEF. From being the 6th best in the world in terms of infrastructure in 2007-2008, the country has slipped to the 16th spot.

America is now beset with angry people venting their frustration over the dilapidated condition of the roads, bridges, metro rail network, etc and this is leading to a further slowdown in the economy.

The WEF says that infrastructure is one of the major pillars of evaluating a nation's competitiveness.

Efficient infrastructure is critical to ensure good functioning of the economy.

A well-developed transport and communications infrastructure network is a prerequisite for the access of less-developed communities to core economic activities and services.

Effective modes of transport, including quality roads, railroads, ports, and air transport, enable entrepreneurs to get their goods and services to market in a secure and timely manner and facilitate the movement of workers to the most suitable jobs.

Economies also depend on electricity supplies that are free of interruptions and shortages.

Finally, a solid and extensive telecommunications network allows for a rapid and free flow of information.

But before we move on the take a look at the top nations with the best infrastructure in the world, here's a word about the rankings of India and China, both of which do not feature among the top 40. For the record, the WEF has compiled a list of 142 nations.

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Rank 89. INDIA: Score -- 3.60

• Population (millions): 1,214.5
• GDP (US$ billions): 1,538.0
• GDP per capita (US$): 1,265
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 5.40

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 3.8
• Quality of roads: 3.4
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 4.4
• Quality of port infrastructure: 3.9
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 4.7
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 3,157.0
• Quality of electricity supply: 3.1
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 2.9
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 61.4

All figures -- unless otherwise indicated as dollars, million/billion, percentage -- are the score that the WEF has given to various infrastructure aspects.

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Rank 44. CHINA: Score -- 4.63

• Population (millions): 1,354.1
• GDP (US$ billions): 5,878.3
• GDP per capita (US$): 4,382
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 13.61

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 4.2
• Quality of roads: 4.4
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 4.6
• Quality of port infrastructure: 4.5
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 4.6
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 10,157.1
• Quality of electricity supply: 5.5
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 21.9
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: . 64.0

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Rank 1. HONG KONG: Score -- 6.71

• Population (millions): 7.1
• GDP (US$ billions): 225.0
• GDP per capita (US$): 31,591
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.44

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.5
• Quality of roads: 6.2
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 6.5
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.6
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.6
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 2,280.1
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.7
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 61.6
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 190.2

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Rank 2. GERMANY: Score -- 6.35

• Population (millions): 82.1
• GDP (US$ billions): 3,315.6
• GDP per capita (US$): 40,631
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 3.96

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.2
• Quality of roads: 6.2
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.7
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.1
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.5
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 4,641.0
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.7
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 55.4
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 127.0

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Rank 3. SINGAPORE: Score -- 6.33

• Population (millions): 4.8
• GDP (US$ billions): 222.7
• GDP per capita (US$): 43,117
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.39

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.6
• Quality of roads: 6.5
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.7
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.8
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.9
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 2,069.1
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.8
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 39.0
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 143.7

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Rank 4. FRANCE: Score -- 6.30

• Population (millions): 62.6
• GDP (US$ billions): 2,582.5
• GDP per capita (US$): 41,019
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 2.90

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.5
• Quality of roads: 6.6
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 6.4
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.6
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.3
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 3,643.0
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.7
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 56.1
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: . 99.7

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Rank 5. SWITZERLAND: Score -- 6.15

• Population (millions): 7.6
• GDP (US$ billions): 523.8
• GDP per capita (US$): 67,246
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.44

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.7
• Quality of roads: 6.4
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 6.8
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.2
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.5
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 881.4
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.8
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 58.6
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 123.6

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Rank 6. The UNITED KINGDOM: Score -- 6.09

• Population (millions): 61.9
• GDP (US$ billions): 2,247.5
• GDP per capita (US$): 36,120
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 2.94

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.6
• Quality of roads: 5.5
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 4.9
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.6
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.9
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 6,229.5
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.7
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 53.7
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 130.2

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Rank 7. The NETHERLANDS: Score -- 6.02

• Population (millions): 16.7
• GDP (US$ billions): 783.3
• GDP per capita (US$): 47,172
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.91

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.0
• Quality of roads: 5.6
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.7
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.6
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.5
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 1,701.4
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.7
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 43.2
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 116.2

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Rank 8. The UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Score -- 5.97

• Population (millions): 4.7
• GDP (US$ billions): 301.9
• GDP per capita (US$): 59,717
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.33

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.3
• Quality of roads: 6.3
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: n/a
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.2
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.5
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 3,214.3
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.4
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 19.7
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 145.5

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Rank 9. SOUTH KOREA: Score -- 5.94

• Population (millions): 48.5
• GDP (US$ billions): 1,007.1
• GDP per capita (US$): 20,591
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 1.97

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.9
• Quality of roads: 5.8
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.7
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.5
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.9
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 1,920.2
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.4
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 59.2
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 105.4

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Rank 10. DENMARK: Score -- 5.89

• Population (millions): 5.5
• GDP (US$ billions): 310.8
• GDP per capita (US$): 56,147
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.27

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.4
• Quality of roads: 6.3
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.5
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.2
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.3
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 421.0
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.9
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 47.3
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 124.4

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Rank 11. CANADA: Score -- 5.88

• Population (millions): 33.9
• GDP (US$ billions): 1,574.1
• GDP per capita (US$): 46,215
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 1.80

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.0
• Quality of roads: 5.8
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.3
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.8
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.0
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 3,203.0
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.6
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 50.0
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: . 70.7

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Rank 12. SPAIN: Score -- 5.83

• Population (millions): 45.3
• GDP (US$ billions): 1,409.9
• GDP per capita (US$): 30,639
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 1.84

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.8
• Quality of roads: 5.9
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.6
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.8
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.0
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 3,690.7
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.0
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 43.2
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 111.8

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Rank 13. SWEDEN: Score -- 5.74

• Population (millions): 9.3
• GDP (US$ billions): 455.8
• GDP per capita (US$): 48,875
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.48

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.1
• Quality of roads: 5.7
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.0
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.0
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.3
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 452.0
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.7
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 53.5
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 113.5

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Rank 14. ICELAND: Score -- 5.70

• Population (millions): 0.3
• GDP (US$ billions): 12.6
• GDP per capita (US$): 39,026
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.02

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.4
• Quality of roads: 5.4
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: n/a
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.2
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.2
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 94.1
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.8
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 63.7
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 108.7

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Rank 15. JAPAN: Score -- 5.69

• Population (millions): .127.0
• GDP (US$ billions): 5,458.9
• GDP per capita (US$): 42,820
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 5.82

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.0
• Quality of roads: 5.8
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 6.5
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.2
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.2
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 4,835.0
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.5
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 31.9
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: . 95.4

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Rank 16. The UNITED STATES of AMERICA: Score -- 5.68

• Population (millions): .317.6
• GDP (US$ billions): 14,657.8
• GDP per capita (US$): 47,284
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 19.74

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.7
• Quality of roads: 5.7
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 4.8
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.5
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.7
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 32,085.9
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.0
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 48.7
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: . 89.9

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Rank 17. BELGIUM: Score -- 5.65

• Population (millions): 10.7
• GDP (US$ billions): 465.7
• GDP per capita (US$): 42,630
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.53

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.9
• Quality of roads: 5.4
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.4
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.5
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.2
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 558.7
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.7
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 43.3
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 113.5

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Rank 18. AUSTRIA: Score -- 5.64

• Population (millions): 8.4
• GDP (US$ billions): 376.8
• GDP per capita (US$): 44,987
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.45

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.3
• Quality of roads: 6.2
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.3
• Quality of port infrastructure: 4.7
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.9
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 418.1
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.8
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 38.7
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 145.8

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Rank 19. FINLAND: Score -- 5.62

• Population (millions): 5.3
• GDP (US$ billions): 239.2
• GDP per capita (US$): 44,489
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.25

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.4
• Quality of roads: 5.8
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.6
• Quality of port infrastructure: 6.2
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.2
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 402.4
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.8
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 23.3
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 156.4

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Rank 20. TAIWAN: Score -- 5.62

• Population (millions): 23.2
• GDP (US$ billions): 430.6
• GDP per capita (US$): 18,458
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 1.09

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.6
• Quality of roads: 5.6
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.4
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.2
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.2
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 877.1
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.3
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 70.8
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 119.9

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Rank 21. LUXEMBOURG: Score -- 5.61

• Population (millions): 0.5
• GDP (US$ billions): 55.0
• GDP per capita (US$): 108,832
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.05

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.9
• Quality of roads: 5.9
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.1
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.2
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.8
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: .21.9
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.4
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 53.7
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 143.3

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Rank 22. BARBADOS: Score -- 5.49

• Population (millions): 0.3
• GDP (US$ billions): : 4.0
• GDP per capita (US$): 14,326
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.01

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.8
• Quality of roads: 5.4
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: n/a
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.6
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.3
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 83.8
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.3
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 50.3
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 128.1

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Rank 23. PORTUGAL: Score -- 5.48

• Population (millions): 10.7
• GDP (US$ billions): 229.3
• GDP per capita (US$): 21,559
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.33

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 6.1
• Quality of roads: 6.3
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 4.4
• Quality of port infrastructure: 4.9
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.5
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 707.7
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.2
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 42.0
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 142.3

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Rank 24. AUSTRALIA: Score -- 5.43

• Population (millions): 21.5
• GDP (US$ billions): 1,235.5
• GDP per capita (US$): 55,590
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 1.19

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.2
• Quality of roads: 5.1
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 4.3
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.1
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.9
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 3,881.1
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.0
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 38.9
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 101.0

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Rank 25. SAUDI ARABIA: Score -- 5.31

• Population (millions): 26.2
• GDP (US$ billions): 443.7
• GDP per capita (US$): 16,996
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.84

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.6
• Quality of roads: 5.8
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 4.0
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.4
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.6
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 1,089.1
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.3
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 15.2
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 187.9

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Rank 26. MALAYSIA: Score -- 5.22

• Population (millions): 27.9
• GDP (US$ billions): 238.0
• GDP per capita (US$): 8,423
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.56

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.7
• Quality of roads: 5.7
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: 5.0
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.7
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 6.0
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 1,475.8
• Quality of electricity supply: 5.9
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 16.1
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 121.3

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Rank 27. QATAR: Score -- 5.17

• Population (millions): 1.5
• GDP (US$ billions): 129.5
• GDP per capita (US$): 76,168
• GDP (PPP) as share (%) of world total: 0.20

Infrastructure

• Quality of overall infrastructure: 5.6
• Quality of roads: 5.0
• Quality of railroad infrastructure: n/a
• Quality of port infrastructure: 5.4
• Quality of air transport infrastructure: 5.9
• Available airline seat km/week, millions: 784.6
• Quality of electricity supply: 6.5
• Fixed telephone lines per 100 people: 16.9
• Mobile telephone subscriptions per 100 people: 132.4

All figures -- unless otherwise indicated as dollars, million/billion, percentage -- are the score that the WEF has given to various infrastructure aspects.