Consultant Ron Bowman has compiled a list of the top ten countries and their cities in which to locate a data center, based on his own criteria of power, cooling, telecom, labour and 'favourable acts of God.'

In the aim of balance we have compiled our own separate lists of the worst countries and locations.
Mr Bowman's top 10:

Iceland--Reykjavìk: Low-energy cost, free cooling

United States: Low-energy cost, favorable labor, and fiber optics
North Carolina
Tennessee

China/Vietnam: Extraordinary demand and new/diverse fiber optic routes in place
Shanghai perimeter
Ho Chi Minh City
Hong Kong
Shantou (submersible, fiber-optic landing point)
Beijing

Latvia: Low-cost hydro power, favorable labor

India: Extraordinary demand, favorable labor
Mumbai
Bangalore
Jakarta

Russia: Favorable telecom, free cooling, favorable labor
St. Petersburg perimeter
Moscow

Canada: Favorable labor, free cooling, favorable telecom
Vancouver
Toronto

Japan: Extraordinary demand, favorable telecom
Tokyo
Kobe

New Zealand: Strategic location, green power, favorable labor

United Arab Emirates: Strategic location, favorable labor, telecom
Dubai
Abu Dhabi

While Mr Bowman's geography is slightly suspect - Jakarta, India? China and Vietnam as one country? - he has applied a rigorous methodology to his list. As you can see from the list below, we have applied the same criteria.

The Criteria:
Access to reliable and scalable power inclusive of the generating cost of CO2 emissions.
Access to cooling solutions, including potable and grey water with free cooling options.
Confluence of last-mile, long-haul, and submersible cable connectivity.
Scalable and burstable optics of Central Offices (CO's) and Network Access Points.
Relevant government, as well as civilian stability and security.
Possible composite Acts of God risks: disasters, duration, and consequences.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) inclusive of VAT, sales, personal property, tariffs, one-time improvements, operating expenses, and escalation of same.
Access and reliability to human resources (and vendors) for multi-cultural and multi-lingual operations and sustainability (closeness to critical mass of IT and people).
Existing and potential eco-friendly and renewable energy conservation and energy creation to enhance assets.

Top ten worst countries (in no particular order):
Nigeria
Iraq
South Ossetia
Georgia
North Yemen
Somalia
Papua New Guinea
Myanmar
Haiti
The Vatican - though it has been pointed out that if nothing else it should be exempted under the expectation of favourable acts of God.

Top Ten worst locations: (no order)
Mount Etna
British Antarctic Survey Station, Halley
Pyongyang
Galapagos Islands,
Los Angeles
Harare
Venice
Kabul
Machu Picchu
Atlantis