Pakistan Climbs Four Places in Global Innovation Index 2026

Pakistan has improved its position in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026, climbing four places to 95th among 139 economies and reclaiming its status as an innovation "overperformer, " according to a report published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Key points

• Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States retained the top three positions in the 2026 index, with Switzerland ranking first for the 16th consecutive year.
• Pakistan performed better in innovation outputs than inputs in the 2026 index, ranking 72nd in outputs and 121st in inputs.
• Pakistan ranked 15th among 36 lower-middle-income economies and eighth among 11 economies in Central and Southern Asia.
• Artificial intelligence-related investment remained a key source of potential expansion, with major technology businesses projected to spend more than $1 trillion on AI infrastructure throughout 2025 and 2026.
• The country moved up from 99th place in 2025, marking its fourth time being recognized as an overperformer.

Meanwhile, the country moved up from 99th place in 2025, marking its fourth time being recognized as an overperformer. The designation is given to economies that achieve stronger innovation results than projected for their level of economic development. Pakistan additionally held the status in 2022 and 2024. Pakistan Performs Better in Innovation Outputs.

Pakistan performed better in innovation outputs than inputs in the 2026 index, ranking 72nd in outputs and 121st in inputs. Both rankings improved from the previous year. Govt Budget on Internet in Remote Areas Made public.

"Innovation overperformance shows that innovation does not follow a straight line from income to results, " the report remarked, adding that economies can generate more innovation than anticipated by building on focused strengths.

WIPO identified Pakistan's strengths in the digital economy, including mobile app creation, ICT services exports, high-tech imports, and software spending. The report additionally cited the country's relatively robust scientific production and university quality as factors supporting its developing digital economy.

Pakistan ranked 15th among 36 lower-middle-income economies and eighth among 11 economies in Central and Southern Asia. Nevertheless, it did not feature among the leading countries in any individual innovation pillar, including human capital and research, infrastructure, and other categories. Pakistan's Innovation Ranking Improves Over Time.

As the report notes, pakistan's GII ranking has fluctuated over the past seven years.

Notably, the country ranked 107th in 2020, 99th in 2021, 87th in 2022, 88th in 2023, 91st in 2024, and 99th in 2025 before improving to 95th in 2026.

WIPO remarked the rankings at the top remained largely stable, with no new economy entering the top 15 since 2025. Europe accounted for 14 of the 25 leading innovation economies. While Austria climbed to 18th, the Netherlands moved up to seventh place.

Five Asian economies additionally ranked among the top 25. While China remained at 10th, Japan ranked 12th, and Hong Kong, China, placed 14th, south Korea and Singapore placed fourth and fifth, respectively. OGRA to Employ AI to Monitor Pakistan's Fuel Supply.

Notably, the report described the presence of Asian economies among the leading innovators as an established feature of the rankings. Global Innovation Progress Slows.

WIPO's 2026 Innovation Tracker pointed to continued but slower progress throughout the innovation cycle. Most indicators advanced, with gains in scientific output, corporate research and development, battery costs, and technology adoption. Nevertheless, around three-quarters of indicators remained below their decade-long averages.

Global research and development intensity remained near a historic high of 2 percent of GDP.

For context, the report additionally cautioned that the near-term economic environment had become more challenging. Global expansion of around 3.4 percent in 2025 was anticipated to slow to approximately 3 percent in 2026, weighed down by higher energy rates and uncertainty, before recovering modestly in 2027.

As investment increasingly relies on debt and private credit, nevertheless, WIPO cautioned that a downward revision in anticipated AI returns could tighten financing conditions beyond the technology sector.

Meanwhile, the report remarked emerging economies, including Pakistan, could improve their overall innovation performance by building on their existing strengths. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

Obtain the latest tech news, telecom insights, and product launches wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover. Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp. See more ProPakistani stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

In short, pakistan Climbs Four Places in Global Innovation Index 2026 is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.