The guide has been released by the UK Foreign Office to enable travellers to assess the risk involved in travelling over the New Year.

It coincides with the release in Washington of a US State Department statement on the worldwide impact of the millennium bug.

Travel advisory

Details of the state of readiness of 50 countries are listed and they will be updated over the next few weeks until most countries are covered.

The list includes information on preparedness in key areas including transport, energy, communication, health and water.

"The information has been taken from a range of public and other sources available to staff here and in overseas posts," Foreign Office Minister John Battle said.

But he added it was not meant to be "judgmental", it should not be read as a chart or league table.

"We do not guarantee the information will be definitive or exhaustive," he said.

Danger zones

The report concludes it is safe to travel to most countries during the millennium period.

BBC Correspondent Christine McGourty: Australia is likely to be almost bug-free

However, a travel advisory released with the report warns against travelling to Ukraine.

"We advise against all holiday and non-essential travel to the Ukraine over the New Year period and early January 2000 until the situation becomes clearer," the advisory said.

Air traffic control in three Indonesian airports were not yet Year 2000 compliant, the report said.

Several other countries will face "some disruption" it added.

Hospitals in Germany give reason for some concern, as do the emergency services in Greece.

In short, while there is potential for some disruption almost anywhere, but if you want to play it safe the best places to be over the millennium include Australia and Finland.