Switzerland ranks third in global competitiveness
(29.07.2026) Switzerland remains one of the world's most competitive economies. However, it has slipped two places compared with 2025, placing third in the 2026 World Competitiveness Ranking by IMD Business School in Lausanne, behind Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Lausanne-based institute assessed 70 countries and administrative entities based on four main criteria: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.
After topping the ranking in 2025, Switzerland now ranks third. The country continues to stand out for the efficiency of its government policies (1st) and the quality of its infrastructure (1st). However, its economic performance declined sharply in 2026 (37th, -24 places), mainly due to a significant fall in international investment (41st, -35 places) and employment (30th, -5 places). Business efficiency remained unchanged (6th).
Singapore tops the 2026 ranking, climbing one place compared with last year. IMD notes gains in the city-state's business efficiency (1st, +7 places), as well as an improvement in its infrastructure (5th, +1 place). However, Singapore fell two places in terms of economic performance (3rd). Ranked 5th in 2024 and 3rd in 2025, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region confirms its upward trend in 2026 by securing second place among the world's most competitive economies.
Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates complete the top five, followed by Denmark (6th), Ireland (7th), the Netherlands (8th), Sweden (9th) and the United States (10th). Venezuela (70th), Namibia (69th) and Nigeria (68th) occupy the bottom three positions in the ranking.