World Competitiveness Yearbook
The World Competitiveness Yearbook (or World Competitiveness Ranking ) is a ranking list of the 60 most competitive countries in the world, which enjoys global recognition and high acceptance. Since 1989, the IMD World Competitiveness Center , part of the Swiss International Institute for Management Development (IMD) , has been developing and publishing the ranking list, including a report and an outlook. In the opinion of the IMD scientists, competitiveness corresponds to the degree of ability to sell the goods and services produced within an economy profitably on the corresponding world markets, including one's own national market.
The 25th annual edition was published in May 2013. The USA was able to regain its former supremacy. The European Union made with Sweden and Germany two top-10 countries.
In the German-speaking region, Switzerland was rated second in 2013 as the most competitive country and, like Germany in 9th place, continued a long-term upward trend. Germany was the only representative of the euro area among the top 10 countries. Austria was in 23rd place in a long-term slight downward trend.
Ranking 2018 (Top 50)
| Rank 2018 | Change to the previous year |
2017 (previous year) |
1997 (20 years) |
country | continent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4th | 1 |
 United States
|
America | |
| 2 | 1 | 3 |
 Hong Kong ( ) |
Asia | |
| 3 | 3 | 2 |
 Singapore
|
Asia | |
| 4th | 5 | 4th |
 Netherlands ( ) |
Europe | |
| 5 | 2 | 12 |
 Switzerland
|
Europe | |
| 6th | 7th | 13 |
 Denmark ( ) |
Europe | |
| 7th | 10 | > 60 |
 United Arab Emirates
|
Asia | |
| 8th | 11 | 5 |
 Norway
|
Europe | |
| 9 | 9 | 19th |
 Sweden ( ) |
Europe | |
| 10 | 12 | 6th |
 Canada
|
America | |
| 11 | 8th | 8th |
 Luxembourg ( ) |
Europe | |
| 12 | 6th | 10 |
 Ireland ( ) |
Europe | |
| 13 | 18th | 27 |
People's Republic of China
|
Asia | |
| 14th | 17th | > 60 |
 Qatar
|
Asia | |
| 15th | 13 | 16 |
 Germany ( ) |
Europe | |
| 16 | 15th | 7th |
 Finland ( ) |
Europe | |
| 17th | 14th | 18th |
 Taiwan
|
Asia | |
| 18th | 25th | 20th |
 Austria ( ) |
Europe | |
| 19th | 21st | 15th |
 Australia
|
Australia / Oceania | |
| 20th | 19th | 9 |
 United Kingdom ( ) |
Europe | |
| 21st | 22nd | 25th |
 Israel
|
Asia | |
| 22nd | 24 | 14th |
 Malaysia
|
Asia | |
| 23 | 16 | 11 |
 New Zealand
|
Australia / Oceania | |
| 24 | 20th | 21st |
 Iceland
|
Europe | |
| 25th | 26th | 17th |
 Japan
|
Asia | |
| 26th | 23 | 23 |
 Belgium ( ) |
Europe | |
| 27 | 29 | 30th |
 South Korea
|
Asia | |
| 28 | 31 | 22nd |
 France ( ) |
Europe | |
| 29 | 28 | 33 |
 Czech Republic ( ) |
Europe | |
| 30th | 27 | 31 |
 Thailand
|
Asia | |
| 31 | 30th | > 60 |
 Estonia ( ) |
Europe | |
| 32 | 33 | <60 |
 Lithuania ( ) |
Europe | |
| 33 | 39 | 32 |
 Portugal ( ) |
Europe | |
| 34 | 38 | 43 |
 Poland ( ) |
Europe | |
| 35 | 35 | 24 |
 Chile
|
America | |
| 36 | 34 | 26th |
 Spain ( ) |
Europe | |
| 37 | 43 | k. A. |
 Slovenia ( ) |
Europe | |
| 38 | 32 | > 60 |
 Kazakhstan
|
Asia | |
| 39 | 36 | k. A. |
 Saudi Arabia
|
Asia | |
| 40 | 40 | > 60 |
 Latvia ( ) |
Europe | |
| 41 | 37 | k. A. |
 Cyprus ( ) |
Europe | |
| 42 | 44 | 39 |
 Italy ( ) |
Europe | |
| 43 | 42 | 38 |
 Indonesia
|
Asia | |
| 44 | 45 | 41 |
 India
|
Asia | |
| 45 | 46 | 46 |
 Russia
|
Europe / Asia | |
| 46 | 47 | 35 |
 Turkey
|
Asia | |
| 47 | 52 | 37 |
 Hungary ( ) |
Europe | |
| 48 | 49 | k. A. |
 Bulgaria ( ) |
Europe | |
| 49 | 50 | k. A. |
 Romania ( ) |
Europe | |
| 50 | 41 | 29 |
 Philippines
|
Asia |
developments
Winner in a 15-year comparison
Since 1997 the following countries have improved above average (five or more ranks):
- +15 ranks: Sweden ,
- at least +13 ranks: Slovakia
- at least +11 ranks: Ukraine
- +11 ranks: Poland ,
- +10 ranks: Switzerland ,
- +8 ranks: North Korea , Mexico ,
- +7 ranks: Germany , Taiwan ,
- +6 ranks: People's Republic of China , Israel
Losers in a 15-year comparison
Since 1997 the following countries have deteriorated above average (-5 or more places deterioration, alphabetically):
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Hungary and Venezuela.
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://www.imd.org/wcc/world-competitiveness-center-mission/center-history-bris-garelli/
- ↑ IMD World Competitiveness Rankings 2018 Results. In: IMD. Retrieved May 24, 2018 .