0
South Korea’s IMD competitiveness ranking trajectory

South Korea ranked 21st in this year’s Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking, rising six places from last year.

According to the '2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking Results' released by the Ministry of Finance and Economy on the 18th, South Korea placed 21st among 70 countries. This marks its second-highest ranking since first being included in the IMD evaluation in 1997, following its 20th-place finish in 2024.

Among the '30-50 Club' countries (those with a per capita income above $30,000 and a population over 50 million), South Korea ranked second only to the United States (10th). This places it ahead of Germany (23rd), the United Kingdom (24th), Japan (30th), France (36th), and Italy (45th).

By sector, South Korea’s business efficiency ranking jumped 10 places to 34th from 44th last year. Infrastructure also leapt six spots from 21st last year to 15th this year. Scientific infrastructure, in particular, maintained a strong competitive edge at 2nd place.

Conversely, economic performance fell three places from 11th to 14th. Declines in indicators for the domestic economy (8th to 10th), employment (5th to 7th), and prices (30th to 40th) drove the drop. Government efficiency maintained its position at 31st, unchanged from last year.

Kang Ki-ryong, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, stated, "The government plans to use the results of the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of our economy, continue ongoing institutional improvements and innovation efforts, and focus on comprehensively strengthening national competitiveness."

                                                                                                             Lee Ji-hoon