Switzerland Tops 2025 Digital Competitiveness Ranking
Switzerland retains its position as the global leader in digital competitiveness, outperforming the United States and Singapore in the 2025 IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR). This ranking, issued annually by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, evaluates 69 economies based on their capacity to adopt and leverage digital technologies for economic and social progress.
Key Ranking Results
- Switzerland ranks first overall.
- United States places second.
- Singapore ranks third.
Strengths and Challenges
Switzerland's top position reflects robust digital infrastructure, strong education systems, and thriving innovation ecosystems. Yet, experts at IMD caution that rising trade fragmentation and changing regulatory conditions pose potential risks to maintaining this lead.
“Digitally speaking, Switzerland has experienced two important developments so far this year: the cataclysmic effects of tariff changes and the approval of e-ID by a razor-thin margin (50.4% in favor),” said Arturo Bris, Director of IMD’s World Competitiveness Center (WCC). “It’s clear that the Swiss aren’t as prepared as we might have hoped to embrace the challenges of technology today.”
The IMD highlights how escalating trade tensions increasingly affect data flows, technical standards, and investment priorities, all critical factors shaping global digital competitiveness.
About the IMD Ranking
The World Digital Competitiveness Ranking measures economies’ ability to adopt and explore digital technologies to foster economic and societal transformation, making it a key indicator of digital progress at a national level.
Author’s summary: Switzerland remains the top digital economy in 2025, thanks to its strong infrastructure and innovation, though evolving trade and regulatory challenges may impact its future leadership.