Wikipedia

Global Innovation Index

The Global Innovation Index is an annual ranking of countries by their capacity for and success in innovation, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It was started in 2007 by INSEAD and World Business,[1]: 203  a British magazine. Until 2021, it was published by WIPO in partnership with Cornell University, INSEAD, and other organisations and institutions.[2]: 333 [3] It is based on both subjective and objective data derived from several sources, including the International Telecommunication Union, the World Bank, and the World Economic Forum.[1]: 203 

Global Innovation Index
Report cover of the Global Innovation Index Report 2026
Language English, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, German, Korean, Portuguese, Japanese
Publication details
History 2007–present
Publisher
Frequency Annual
License CC BY 4.0
Standard abbreviations
ISO 4 Glob. Innov. Index
Indexing
ISSN 2263-3693
Links
Framework showing the elements of the index

History

edit

The Global Innovation Index was started in 2007 by INSEAD and World Business,[1]: 203  a British magazine. It was created by Soumitra Dutta.[4]

Methodology

edit

The Global Innovation Index is computed by taking a simple average of the scores in two sub-indices (the Innovation Input Index and Innovation Output Index), which are composed of respectively five and two pillars. Each of those pillars describes an attribute of innovation and have to five indicators, and their score is calculated by the weighted average method.[5]

Since its inception in 2007, the index has had its results analyzed by an increasing number of governments annually, which design policy responses to improve their performance.[6][7][8][9][10] The index is mentioned in a resolution on science, technology and innovation for sustainable development adopted on 19 December 2019 by the General Assembly of the United Nations.[11]

Criticism

edit

Several scholars have criticized the index for giving excessive significance attributed to factors that are not integral to innovation. For instance, "Ease of Paying Taxes", "Electricity Output" (half-weightage), and "Ease of Protecting Minority Investors" are factors alongside "Ease of Getting Credit" and "Venture Capital Deals."[12] A 2024 study by Sarcina, Paolantonio, Valentini, and Iannone argued that the analysis of the GII pillars is "too aggregated to provide the necessary visibility of the determinants of innovation performance." The research found that indicators within a single pillar "contribute with different weights and have different statistical significance." The authors suggested that the model for calculating the ranking should be redefined to not only consider the "most statistically representative variables" but also to include "geographical, demographic, and socio-economic factors," noting that the importance of various innovation determinants likely differs between countries at different stages of development.[13]

Themes

edit

Every two years, the index covers a theme related to innovation that goes beyond the innovation rankings. In 2020, the theme was "Who will finance innovation?" and shed light on the state of innovation financing by investigating the evolution of existing mechanisms and by pointing to progress and remaining challenges. Previous themes covered topics such as health innovation, environmental innovation, and agricultural and food innovation.[14]

2026 Ranking

edit

The 2026 ranking was released on September 29 as part of the report titled Global Innovation Index 2026: Powering Entrepreneurs at the Frontier of Science. The ranking covered 139 economies and used around 80 indicators. According to estimates for that year, global R&D expenditure grew by more than 3.3% in real terms in 2025, and the estimation for 2026 is that it will expand by 3.6% to $3.4 trillion. The 2026 ranking was led by Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, South Korea, and Singapore.[15][16]

Global Innovation Index, 2026[16]
Rank Country and region Score Income group Region
1  Switzerland 66.7 High-income Europe
2  Sweden 63.2 High-income Europe
3  United States 62.3 High-income Northern America
4  South Korea 61.4 High-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
5  Singapore 61.0 High-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
6  United Kingdom 59.6 High-income Europe
7  Netherlands 58.4 High-income Europe
8  Finland 57.9 High-income Europe
9  Denmark 57.7 High-income Europe
10  China 57.0 Upper middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
11  Germany 56.8 High-income Europe
12  Japan 54.1 High-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
13  France 54.0 High-income Europe
14  Hong Kong 53.2 High-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
15  Israel 52.2 High-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
16  Canada 51.1 High-income Northern America
17  Estonia 50.4 High-income Europe
18  Austria 50.2 High-income Europe
19  Ireland 50.1 High-income Europe
20  Australia 49.6 High-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
21  Norway 48.5 High-income Europe
22  Belgium 48.5 High-income Europe
23  Luxembourg 46.6 High-income Europe
24  New Zealand 46.4 High-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
25  United Arab Emirates 46.4 High-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
26  Iceland 46.3 High-income Europe
27  Italy 46.2 High-income Europe
28  Spain 45.4 High-income Europe
29  Cyprus 45.3 High-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
30  Portugal 44.5 High-income Europe
31  Malta 43.8 High-income Europe
32  Lithuania 43.2 High-income Europe
33  Czech Republic 42.8 High-income Europe
34  Malaysia 41.8 Upper middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
35  Slovenia 41.1 High-income Europe
36  Hungary 40.7 High-income Europe
37  Bulgaria 40.3 High-income Europe
38  India 40.1 Lower middle-income Central and Southern Asia
39  Poland 39.5 High-income Europe
40  Latvia 38.3 High-income Europe
41  Greece 38.2 High-income Europe
42  Saudi Arabia 37.9 High-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
43  Vietnam 37.7 Lower middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
44  Thailand 37.6 Upper middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
45  Turkey 37.5 Upper middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
46  Croatia 36.9 High-income Europe
47  Qatar 36.6 High-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
48  Slovakia 36.5 High-income Europe
49  Romania 35.3 High-income Europe
50  Mauritius 34.1 Upper middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
51  Chile 33.8 High-income Latin America and the Caribbean
52  Philippines 33.8 Lower middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
53  Brazil 33.5 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
54  Morocco 32.8 Lower middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
55  Indonesia 32.7 Upper middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
56  Serbia 32.5 Upper middle-income Europe
57  Georgia 32.2 Upper middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
58  Russia 31.8 High-income Europe
59  Armenia 31.6 Upper middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
60  Jordan 31.5 Lower middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
61  North Macedonia 31.2 Upper middle-income Europe
62  Kuwait 30.9 High-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
63  South Africa 30.9 Upper middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
64  Bahrain 30.8 High-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
65  Mexico 30.6 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
66  Uruguay 30.5 High-income Latin America and the Caribbean
67  Ukraine 30.4 Upper middle-income Europe
68  Moldova 30.3 Upper middle-income Europe
69  Oman 30.0 High-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
70  Costa Rica 29.8 High-income Latin America and the Caribbean
71  Tunisia 29.3 Lower middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
72  Mongolia 29.1 Upper middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
73  Kazakhstan 29.1 Upper middle-income Central and Southern Asia
74  Bhutan 28.9 Lower middle-income Central and Southern Asia
75  Argentina 28.8 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
76  Montenegro 28.8 Upper middle-income Europe
77  Uzbekistan 28.7 Lower middle-income Central and Southern Asia
78  Colombia 28.6 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
79  Albania 28.3 Upper middle-income Europe
80  Peru 27.9 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
81  Iran 27.6 Upper middle-income Central and Southern Asia
82  Botswana 27.1 Upper middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
83  Egypt 26.1 Lower middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
84  Bosnia and Herzegovina 26.1 Upper middle-income Europe
85  Azerbaijan 25.8 Upper middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
86  Lebanon 25.6 Lower middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
87  Jamaica 24.9 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
88  Belarus 24.5 Upper middle-income Europe
89  Panama 24.4 High-income Latin America and the Caribbean
90  Senegal 24.4 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
91  Barbados 24.2 High-income Latin America and the Caribbean
92  Kyrgyzstan 24.1 Lower middle-income Central and Southern Asia
93  Cambodia 23.8 Lower middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
94  Sri Lanka 23.7 Lower middle-income Central and Southern Asia
95  Pakistan 23.7 Lower middle-income Central and Southern Asia
96  Rwanda 23.3 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
97  Kenya 23.0 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
98  Brunei 23.0 High-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
99  Dominican Republic 22.9 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
100  El Salvador 22.8 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
101  Ghana 22.6 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
102  Namibia 22.5 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
103  Cape Verde 22.4 Upper middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
104  Nepal 22.3 Lower middle-income Central and Southern Asia
105  Bangladesh 21.5 Lower middle-income Central and Southern Asia
106  Ecuador 21.3 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
107  Trinidad and Tobago 21.2 High-income Latin America and the Caribbean
108  Laos 21.2 Lower middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
109  Paraguay 21.1 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
110  Ivory Coast 20.8 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
111  Algeria 20.5 Upper middle-income Northern Africa and Western Asia
112  Tajikistan 20.3 Lower middle-income Central and Southern Asia
113  Madagascar 20.2 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
114  Bolivia 19.7 Lower middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
115  Zambia 19.5 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
116  Honduras 19.2 Lower middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
117  Benin 19.1 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
118  Nigeria 19.1 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
119  Tanzania 19.0 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
120  Guatemala 19.0 Upper middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
121  Cameroon 18.9 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
122  Togo 18.7 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
123  Uganda 18.4 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
124  Nicaragua 18.0 Lower middle-income Latin America and the Caribbean
125  Myanmar 17.4 Lower middle-income South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania
126  Malawi 17.2 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
127  Venezuela 16.7 - Latin America and the Caribbean
128  Lesotho 16.5 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
129  Mozambique 16.1 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
130  Burkina Faso 16.1 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
131  Mauritania 16.1 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
132  Zimbabwe 16.1 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
133  Ethiopia 15.7 - Sub-Saharan Africa
134  Mali 15.2 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
135  Burundi 15.1 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
136  Angola 13.0 Lower middle-income Sub-Saharan Africa
137  Democratic Republic of the Congo 12.6 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
138  Niger 12.1 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
139  Chad 9.5 Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa

2025 ranking

edit
Economies climbing the ladder in global innovation. Top climbers since 2013 and 2019. Year-on-year comparisons of GII rankings must take into account changes to the GII model that have occurred over time, as well as data availability.

In 2025, for an economy to feature in the GII 2025, the minimum data coverage requirement is at least 35 indicators in the Innovation Input Sub-Index and 15 indicators in the Innovation Output Sub-Index, with scores for at least two sub-pillars per pillar. In the GII 2025, 139 economies had sufficient data available to be included in the Index. They represent 93.6 percent of the world's population.[17] This year's conceptual framework includes 78 different indicators.[18]

The Global Innovation Index 2025 scores 139 countries and regions.[19][20]

Rank Country and region Score Income group
1  Switzerland 66.0 High-income
2  Sweden 62.6 High-income
3  United States 61.7 High-income
4  South Korea 60.0 High-income
5  Singapore 59.9 High-income
6  United Kingdom 59.1 High-income
7  Finland 57.7 High-income
8  Netherlands 57.0 High-income
9  Denmark 56.9 High-income
10  China 56.6 Upper middle-income
11  Germany 55.5 High-income
12  Japan 53.6 High-income
13  France 53.4 High-income
14  Israel 52.3 High-income
15  Hong Kong 51.5 High-income
16  Estonia 51.1 High-income
17  Canada 51.1 High-income
18  Ireland 50.4 High-income
19  Austria 50.1 High-income
20  Norway 49.2 High-income
21  Belgium 48.5 High-income
22  Australia 48.0 High-income
23  Luxembourg 47.3 High-income
24  Iceland 47.0 High-income
25  New Zealand 45.5 High-income
26  Cyprus 45.5 High-income
27  Malta 45.4 High-income
28  Italy 44.9 High-income
29  Spain 44.6 High-income
30  United Arab Emirates 44.2 High-income
31  Portugal 43.9 High-income
32  Czech Republic 42.0 High-income
33  Lithuania 40.8 High-income
34  Malaysia 40.6 Upper middle-income
35  Slovenia 40.1 High-income
36  Hungary 40.0 High-income
37  Bulgaria 39.1 High-income
38  India 38.2 Lower middle-income
39  Poland 37.7 High-income
40  Croatia 37.7 High-income
41  Latvia 37.5 High-income
42  Greece 37.4 High-income
43  Turkey 37.2 Upper middle-income
44  Vietnam 37.1 Lower middle-income
45  Thailand 36.7 Upper middle-income
46  Saudi Arabia 36.0 High-income
47  Slovakia 35.5 High-income
48  Qatar 34.6 High-income
49  Romania 34.3 High-income
50  Philippines 33.6 Lower middle-income
51  Chile 33.1 High-income
52  Brazil 32.9 Upper middle-income
53  Mauritius 32.5 Upper middle-income
54  Serbia 31.7 Upper middle-income
55  Indonesia 31.3 Upper middle-income
56  Georgia 31.2 Upper middle-income
57  Morocco 31.1 Lower middle-income
58  Mexico 30.5 Upper middle-income
59  Armenia 30.5 Upper middle-income
60  Russia 30.3 High-income
61  South Africa 30.1 Upper middle-income
62  Bahrain 30.0 High-income
63  North Macedonia 29.8 Upper middle-income
64  Montenegro 29.8 Upper middle-income
65  Jordan 29.7 Lower middle-income
66  Ukraine 29.7 Upper middle-income
67  Albania 29.6 Upper middle-income
68  Uruguay 28.8 High-income
69  Oman 28.7 High-income
70  Iran 28.5 Upper middle-income
71  Colombia 28.5 Upper middle-income
72  Costa Rica 28.4 Upper middle-income
73  Kuwait 28.2 High-income
74  Moldova 27.4 Upper middle-income
75  Seychelles 27.2 High-income
76  Tunisia 27.0 Lower middle-income
77  Argentina 26.8 Upper middle-income
78  Mongolia 26.7 Upper middle-income
79  Uzbekistan 26.5 Lower middle-income
80  Peru 26.5 Upper middle-income
81  Kazakhstan 26.3 Upper middle-income
82  Panama 25.9 High-income
83  Jamaica 25.2 Upper middle-income
84  Barbados 25.1 High-income
85  Belarus 25.1 Upper middle-income
86  Egypt 24.7 Lower middle-income
87  Botswana 24.6 Upper middle-income
88  Brunei 24.5 High-income
89  Senegal 23.8 Lower middle-income
90  Lebanon 23.6 Lower middle-income
91  Namibia 23.5 Upper middle-income
92  Bosnia and Herzegovina 23.4 Upper middle-income
93  Sri Lanka 22.9 Lower middle-income
94  Azerbaijan 22.9 Upper middle-income
95  Cape Verde 22.6 Lower middle-income
96  Kyrgyzstan 22.6 Lower middle-income
97  Dominican Republic 22.6 Upper middle-income
98  El Salvador 22.2 Upper middle-income
99  Pakistan 22.1 Lower middle-income
100  Cambodia 21.9 Lower middle-income
101  Ghana 21.9 Lower middle-income
102  Paraguay 21.4 Upper middle-income
103  Kenya 21.4 Lower middle-income
104  Rwanda 21.1 Low-income
105  Nigeria 21.1 Lower middle-income
106  Bangladesh 21.0 Lower middle-income
107  Nepal 20.2 Lower middle-income
108  Tajikistan 20.2 Lower middle-income
109  Laos 20.1 Lower middle-income
110  Ivory Coast 19.7 Lower middle-income
111  Bolivia 19.6 Lower middle-income
112  Zambia 19.6 Lower middle-income
113  Ecuador 19.5 High-income
114  Trinidad and Tobago 19.3 High-income
115  Algeria 18.9 Upper middle-income
116  Cameroon 18.2 Lower middle-income
117  Togo 18.1 Low-income
118  Benin 17.8 Lower middle-income
119  Honduras 17.7 Lower middle-income
120  Madagascar 17.6 Low-income
121  Tanzania 17.5 Lower middle-income
122  Myanmar 17.3 Lower middle-income
123  Guatemala 17.1 Upper middle-income
124  Uganda 17.1 Low-income
125  Malawi 16.0 Low-income
126  Burkina Faso 15.9 Low-income
127  Burundi 15.8 Low-income
128  Mozambique 15.4 Low-income
129  Zimbabwe 15.4 Lower middle-income
130  Nicaragua 15.4 Lower middle-income
131  Mauritania 15.4 Lower middle-income
132  Lesotho 14.9 Lower middle-income
133  Guinea 14.9 Lower middle-income
134  Ethiopia 14.4 Low-income
135  Mali 14.0 Low-income
136  Venezuela 13.7 -
137  Republic of the Congo 13.6 Lower middle-income
138  Angola 13.0 Lower middle-income
139  Niger 11.9 Low-income
Movement in the Global Innovation Index top 10 countries and territories between 2018 and 2022

References

edit
  1. 1 2 3 Jean-Eric Aubert (editor) (2010). Innovation Policy: A Guide for Developing Countries. Washington, DC: World Bank. ISBN 9780821382691.
  2. ↑ Charles H. Matthews, Ralph Brueggemann (2015). Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Competency Framework. London; New York: Routledge. ISBN 9780415742528.
  3. ↑ "UK ranked as world-leader in innovation". Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Academic Network – Portulans Institute". portulansinstitute.org. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Soumitra Dutta, Bruno Lanvin, Sacha Wunsch-Vincent (editors) (2015). Global Innovation Index Report 2015. Fontainebleau; Ithaca; Geneva: INSEAD, Cornell and WIPO. ISBN 9782952221085. Archived 18 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "Republic Act No. 11293 : The Philippine Innovation Act declares the GII as a measure of innovation". lawphil.net. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  7. ↑ In July 2021, the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters, under the Japanese Prime Minister's Office, decided on the Intellectual Property Promotion Plan 2021, which set forth a plan of annual action related to intellectual property for all ministries and agencies. In the first part of the plan, WIPO's GII is cited (p. 5): https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/titeki2/kettei/chizaikeikaku20210713.pdf
  8. ↑ The GII is also cited throughout the official Malaysian Government report, the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (RMK12): https://rmke12.epu.gov.my/en Archived 4 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine .
  9. ↑ "Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP on solutions for implementation of socio economic development plan in 2021". LuatVietnam. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "UK ranked as world-leader in innovation". Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  11. ↑ A/RES/74/229: Seventy-fourth session: Agenda item 20 (b): Globalization and interdependence: science, technology and innovation for sustainable development: Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2019. Accessed December 2021.
  12. ↑ Dašić, Predrag; Dašić, Jovan; Antanasković, Dejan; Pavićević, Nina (2020). "Statistical Analysis and Modeling of Global Innovation Index (GII) of Serbia". In Karabegović, Isak (ed.). New Technologies, Development and Application III. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems. Vol. 128. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 515–521. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-46817-0_59. ISBN 978-3-030-46817-0. S2CID 218917874.
  13. ↑ Sarcina, Angela; Paolantonio, M. R.; Valentini, P. P.; Iannone, R. V. (2024). "Innovation's Performance: A Transnational Analysis Based on the Global Innovation Index". Procedia Computer Science. 235: 451–460. doi:10.1016/j.procs.2024.01.043. ISSN 1877-0509.
  14. ↑ "Publications: Global Innovation Index". Wipo.int. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  15. ↑ World Intellectual Property Organization (29 September 2026). "WIPO Global Innovation Index 2026: Switzerland, Sweden, US, Republic of Korea and Singapore Top Ranking; AI Reshaping Innovation Investments as Deep Science Startups Top $7.6 Trillion". www.wipo.int. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  16. 1 2 World Intellectual Property Organization (29 September 2026). Global Innovation Index 2026: Powering Entrepreneurs at the Frontier of Science. World Intellectual Property Organization. p. 16. doi:10.34667/TIND.59194.
  17. ↑ "The Global Innovation Index. Appendix I – Conceptual and measurement framework of the Global Innovation Index". wipo.int. 2025. This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  18. ↑ "Global Innovation Index 2025. Appendix III - Sources and definitions". wipo.int. 2025.
  19. ↑ "Global Innovation Index 2025 - GII 2025 results". wipo.int. 2025.
  20. ↑ "Global Innovation Index 2025 Executive Version". wipo.int. 2025.
  •  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Further reading

edit
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Global_Innovation_Index&oldid=1378001521"