India has shown a notable improvement in innovation performance, moving up to 38th place in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, as published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This ranking places India ahead of its 2020 position of 48, and importantly, #1 among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central and Southern Asia region.
This steady rise demonstrates India’s growing focus on research, innovation ecosystems, and technology-driven growth. For competitive exam aspirants, this topic is crucial under international reports, India’s global performance, science and tech, and economic development.
Top 10 Most Innovative Countries in 2025
As per the GII 2025 report, the top 10 countries globally in innovation are,
| Rank | Country | GII Score |
| 1 | Switzerland | 66 |
| 2 | Sweden | 62.6 |
| 3 | United States of America | 61.7 |
| 4 | Republic of Korea | 60 |
| 5 | Singapore | 59.8 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | 59.1 |
| 7 | Finland | 57.7 |
| 8 | Netherlands | 57 |
| 9 | Denmark | 56.9 |
| 10 | China | 56.6 |
Regional Highlights
- Europe dominates with six countries in the top 10 and 15 in the top 25.
- North America maintains strong positions with the USA at #3 and Canada at #17.
- Asia continues to rise with South Korea (#4), Singapore (#5), and China (#10) making the top 10.
India’s Performance in GII 2025
India continues to improve its global innovation footprint with a GII score of 40.5 (approx.) and ranks 38th globally. It has shown notable strengths in specific sub-categories.
India’s Strength Areas
- Knowledge and Technology Outputs: Ranked 22nd
- Market Sophistication: Ranked 38th
- Human Capital & Research: Ranked in the top 40
India’s Weaker Areas
- Business Sophistication: Ranked 64th
- Infrastructure: Ranked 61st
- Institutions: Ranked 58th
India remains #1 in the lower-middle-income group and in the Central and Southern Asia region, highlighting its performance relative to countries with similar economic standing.
About Global Innovation Index (GII)
The GII 2025, published by WIPO, assesses 139 countries using 80+ indicators spread across seven pillars,
- Institutions
- Human capital and research
- Infrastructure
- Market sophistication
- Business sophistication
- Knowledge and technology outputs
- Creative outputs
The index provides insights into how countries are fostering innovation-led development and their ability to convert R&D into economic output.
Static Facts to Remember
- Index Name: Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025
- Published By: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- India’s Rank (2025): 38
- India’s Rank in 2020: 48
- Top Country: Switzerland
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