South Korea ranked top among major countries in terms of smartphone ownership and Internet penetration.

According to the U.S.-based Pew Research Center's survey on over 40-thousand people in 37 countries last year, South Korea recorded the highest smartphone ownership rate of 94 percent. 

In the survey released Sunday, Israel came in second with 83 percent, followed by Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden and Lebanon.

South Korea was also the most wired country in the world, with the highest internet penetration rate at 96 percent. The Netherlands and Australia ranked joint second with 93 percent, followed by Sweden, Canada and the U.S.