Every year, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ranks the innovation performance of economies around the world. The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 covers 139 economies and carries one headline change: China entered the top 10 for the first time. This article summarizes who leads, who is climbing, and what the index measures.
Who leads the Global Innovation Index 2025?
The top 10 economies, in order, are Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark and China. China ranks 10th, the first time it has entered the top 10. It is the only middle-income economy in the top 30, and it leads its income group. For profiles of some of the leaders, see our country entries on Switzerland and China.
What are innovation clusters?
The index also ranks science and technology clusters, which are dense areas of inventors and research. The Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Guangzhou cluster ranks first, and the page also names Tokyo and Yokohama, and San Jose and San Francisco, among the leaders of the global cluster ranking. China hosts the most clusters in the top 100, with 24, and the United States has 22. On innovation intensity, Cambridge and San Jose and San Francisco lead.
Which middle-income economies are rising?
WIPO’s page highlights several economies outside the high-income group, and says China, India, Turkiye, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Morocco, Albania and Iran have climbed the fastest since 2013.
- India: 38th, the top-performing lower middle-income economy, and a 15-year overperformer along with Viet Nam
- Turkiye: 43rd
- Viet Nam: 44th
- Philippines: 50th
- Indonesia: 55th, an overperformer for a fourth consecutive year
- Morocco: 57th
An overperformer is an economy that scores higher on innovation than its income level would predict, which is WIPO’s framing. Our entries on India and Indonesia give background on two of these economies.
What does the index say about research spending?
WIPO estimates that China became the top spender on research and development (R&D) in 2024. China also ranks second in late-stage venture deals and in business-financed R&D. The United States leads in late-stage venture deals. Estonia ranks first in venture capital received and in the number of venture investors, according to the index. For readers new to the funding model, see our explainer on venture capital.
How much do economies spend on R&D?
Spending levels vary widely. India’s R&D spending was only 0.65 percent of gross domestic product in 2020, according to the index. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) grew its R&D spending at a compound annual rate of 8.5 percent from 2000 to 2023. Spending is measured against gross domestic product, which allows comparison between large and small economies, and it is only one input to the ranking.
What are the main themes of the 2025 edition?
WIPO’s conclusion describes a world in transition and highlights three themes.
- Broad participation: innovation is occurring across regions and income groups
- Diversity: economies innovate in different ways
- Agility: responsiveness is growing in importance
How to read a ranking
A ranking compresses many indicators into one number, so small gaps between neighbors should not be over-read. Our own reading is that the stable top group and the rise of several middle-income economies are the more reliable signals than any single place. The index also relies on data that vary in quality across countries, a general caution that applies to any composite index. The WIPO page we used gives the 2025 edition’s release as September 16, 2025, based on its citation record.
Key figures at a glance
- Economies ranked: 139
- Top three: Switzerland, Sweden, United States
- China: 10th, the first time in the top 10
- Top-100 clusters: China 24, United States 22
- India: 38th, Indonesia: 55th
- ASEAN R&D growth, 2000 to 2023: 8.5 percent a year
What changed for China?
China’s entry into the top 10 is the headline of the 2025 edition. The index pairs it with other results: the most clusters in the top 100, second place in late-stage venture deals and in business-financed R&D, and an estimated lead in total R&D spending in 2024. Our own reading is that these results point in the same direction, which makes the top 10 entry look like part of a pattern and not an isolated score. The index does not predict future rankings.
Why do middle-income rankings matter?
Most innovation rankings are dominated by wealthy economies. The GII separately tracks economies that score above what their income would predict, which gives a different picture. India has outperformed for 15 years along with Viet Nam, and Indonesia has done so for four consecutive years. For a country with limited resources, ranking well relative to income suggests that policy and institutions matter alongside money. That interpretation is general and is not WIPO’s own wording.
Glossary: terms used in the index
- Research and development (R&D): creative work undertaken to increase knowledge and devise new applications, usually measured as spending
- Venture capital: financing provided to young companies with high growth potential
- Late-stage deal: a venture investment in a company that is already established enough to be close to scale
- Cluster: a geographic area with a dense concentration of inventors, scientists and firms
- Income group: the World Bank’s classification of economies as high, upper middle, lower middle or low income
- Overperformer: an economy that ranks higher on innovation than its income level would suggest
The definitions above are general ones and are not quoted from the WIPO page.
Frequently asked questions
Which country ranks first in innovation?
Switzerland, followed by Sweden and the United States, in the GII 2025.
Where does China rank?
10th, its first appearance in the top 10 and the only middle-income economy in the top 30.
How many economies does the index cover?
139 economies.
Which cluster ranks first?
Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
What is an overperformer?
An economy that scores higher on innovation than its income level would predict.
Where does India rank?
38th, the top-performing lower middle-income economy.