The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), ranks 139 economies based on their innovation performance across 78 indicators. Switzerland maintains its position as the global leader for the 15th consecutive year, excelling in all seven innovation pillars. Notable shifts include China’s debut in the top 10 at rank 10, driven by strong performance in patents and R&D spending. South Korea rises to 4th place, its best ever, while the United States holds steady at 3rd but shows weaknesses in infrastructure. Europe continues to dominate with six countries in the top 10. Middle-income economies like India (39th), Türkiye (37th), and Viet Nam (44th) demonstrate rapid progress, highlighting inclusive innovation trends.
Top 20 Rankings: 2025 vs. 2024
| 2025 Rank | Country | 2025 Score | 2024 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 66.0 | 1 |
| 2 | Sweden | 62.6 | 2 |
| 3 | United States | 61.7 | 3 |
| 4 | South Korea | 60.0 | 6 |
| 5 | Singapore | 59.9 | 4 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | 59.1 | 5 |
| 7 | Finland | 57.7 | 7 |
| 8 | Netherlands | 57.0 | 8 |
| 9 | Denmark | 56.9 | 10 |
| 10 | China | 56.6 | 11 |
| 11 | Germany | 55.5 | 9 |
| 12 | Japan | 53.6 | 13 |
| 13 | France | 53.4 | 12 |
| 14 | Israel | 52.3 | 15 |
| 15 | Hong Kong (China) | 51.5 | 18 |
| 16 | Estonia | 51.1 | 16 |
| 17 | Canada | 51.1 | 14 |
| 18 | Ireland | 50.4 | 19 |
| 19 | Austria | 50.1 | 17 |
| 20 | Norway | 49.2 | 21 |
Focus on Israel
Israel secures the 14th position in the GII 2025, improving from 15th in 2024, with a score of 52.3. Known as the “Startup Nation,” Israel continues to punch above its weight in innovation despite its small size and geopolitical challenges. The country excels in knowledge and technology outputs (ranked 6th globally), driven by high levels of scientific publications, patents, and high-tech exports. It also performs strongly in business sophistication (9th), reflecting robust venture capital investments and a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem—Israel boasts the highest R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP worldwide at over 5%.
However, areas for improvement include infrastructure (45th), particularly in ecological sustainability (ranked 98th), and institutions (32nd), where regulatory hurdles and political instability impact scores. Despite these, Israel’s innovation outputs remain resilient, with strengths in creative goods exports and ICT services. The GII highlights Israel’s role in global tech hubs, contributing significantly to AI, cybersecurity, and biotech sectors. Moving forward, enhancing sustainable practices and institutional stability could propel Israel back into the top 10.
For the full report, visit WIPO’s GII 2025 page.