In 2026, Greece remained in 50th place in the international competitiveness ranking published annually by the world-renowned IMD Business School, based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Specifically, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), as the national representative of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Greece, is publishing today the detailed data from the “World Competitiveness Yearbook” (World Competitiveness Yearbook – WCY), which measures and evaluates specific indicators of the economies of 70 countries worldwide.
Greece remains stable compared to 2025, but has dropped three places compared to 2024 and, overall, ranks between 47th and 50th place during the five-year period from 2022 to 2026. It has, however, improved its ranking among European Union member states by one place compared to last year. Specifically, in 2026 it ranks 21st among participating EU countries, up from 22nd in 2025.
SBE President Loukia Saranti (photo) stated:
“Greece’s continued ranking at 50th place serves as a reminder that, despite the individual improvements recorded in recent years, there are still significant weaknesses that limit the country’s growth potential. Greece has significant strengths: high-quality human capital, a strong business base, and significant growth potential.
However, to translate these strengths into greater competitiveness, a coherent national strategy is needed, with an emphasis on production, innovation, skills, energy competitiveness, and digital transformation. If we want a more productive, more outward-looking, and more resilient economy, we need stable policies that will strengthen the competitiveness of industry and manufacturing. The report shows where we stand. The question is how quickly we want to move forward.”
It should be noted that Singapore, Hong Kong, and Switzerland occupy the top spots in this year’s ranking, confirming the enduring dominance of countries that excel in institutions, the business environment, and innovation. It is worth noting, however, that the top 9 spots are occupied by small economies, a fact that confirms that a country’s competitiveness does not depend on the sheer size of its economy, while the United States ranks 10th. It should also be noted that four of the top 10 countries in the ranking are members of the European Union: Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Greece’s ranking in the individual IMD indicator categories
• Economic Performance: Improved by two positions, from 53rd to 51st place.
• Government Effectiveness: Declined by six places, from 53rd to 59th.
• Business Efficiency: Remains in 53rd place, the same as last year.
• Infrastructure: It fell four places, from 40th to 44th, marking its worst performance in the last five years.