FULL LIST: World most innovative countries in 2024

Switzerland has retained the top spot as the most innovative country in the world 2024, according to the Global Innovation Index (GII).

The GII is an annual ranking conducted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which assesses the innovation performance of 133 economies worldwide.

Sweden, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom were ranked second, third, fourth and fifth respectively.

These countries excel in technological advancements, funding for R&D, and policy frameworks conducive to innovation.

Nigeria was ranked 113th globally and 15th Africa in the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII).

Mauritius leads the African continent, ranking 55th globally, followed by South Africa (69th), Kenya (96th), and Ghana (101st).

This ranking points to gaps in research and development (R&D), infrastructure, and policies fostering innovation.

Other sub-Saharan countries like Rwanda (104th) and Côte d’Ivoire (112th) have made modest progress, indicating that smaller economies are implementing focused innovation strategies more effectively.

Here is a list of the most innovative countries in the world 2024:

1 Switzerland

2 Sweden

3 United States of America

4 Singapore

5 United Kingdom

6 Republic of Korea

7 Finland

8 Netherlands

9 Germany

10 Denmark

11 China

12 France

13 Japan

14 Canada

15 Israel

16 Estonia

17 Austria

18 Hong Kong, China

19 Ireland

20 Luxembourg

21 Norway

22 Iceland

23 Australia

24 Belgium

25 New Zealand

26 Italy

27 Cyprus

28 Spain

29 Malta

30 Czech Republic

31 Portugal

32 United Arab Emirates

33 Malaysia

34 Slovenia

35 Lithuania

36 Hungary

37 Türkiye

38 Bulgaria

39 India

40 Poland

41 Thailand

42 Latvia