Taiwan Rises to 4th in 2026 IMD Competitiveness Ranking
Taiwan climbed to 4th place in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, its best-ever result, trailing only Singapore, Hong Kong and Switzerland. But Premier Cho Jung-tai raised concerns over a decline in Taiwan's "public finance" ranking on the index, pointing to delays in passing the central government budget.
Taiwan Achieves Best-Ever Ranking on World Competitiveness Index
REPORTER:
Taiwan received its best-ever ranking in a global competitiveness index, jumping from 6th to 4th place.
The Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development published its annual World Competitiveness Ranking, placing Taiwan fourth overall. That’s behind only Singapore, Hong Kong and Switzerland. This year’s report placed heavier weight on institutional stability over growth and innovation. Taiwan’s Premier, however, voiced concern over how Taiwan’s “public finance” ranking in the report showed a decline.
Cho Jung-tai (TAIWAN PREMIER):
Why has our fiscal performance
slipped from third place to seventh?
Has there been a major shift
in the nation's fiscal governance?
Did our distribution process
let the international community see
an imbalance between central
and local government allocation?
REPORTER:
Premier Cho was referring to the long-delayed legislative review of Taiwan's 2026 central government budget — a holdup he's blamed on the opposition.
