Philippines Rises to 51st in Global Competitiveness Ranking, Boosted by Economic Gains

The Philippines climbed one spot in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking by the Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development (IMD), moving from 52nd to 51st out of 69 economies evaluated.

The improved ranking reflects better economic performance and infrastructure, even as the country still faces competitiveness challenges in government and business efficiency.

The IMD evaluates countries based on four key areas: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. This year, the Philippines showed notable progress in:

• Economic Performance: 33rd (up from 40th)

• Infrastructure: 60th (up from 61st)

• Government Efficiency: 51st (down from 49th)

• Business Efficiency: 46th (down from 43rd)

Despite the slight overall gain, the Philippines remains 13th out of 14 Asia-Pacific economies—unchanged for six consecutive years.

IMD highlighted the following strategic challenges for the country:

• Reviving economic growth

• Managing inflation

• Advancing inclusive technology to raise productivity and entrepreneurship

• Enhancing education and healthcare systems

• Navigating global economic and geopolitical shifts

Switzerland, Singapore, and Hong Kong secured the top three spots globally in the 2025 report.