GC

I sco

re

1

2

3

4

5

6

7Advanced Economies Sub-Saharan AfricaCommonwealth of Independent States

Emerging and Developing AsiaEmerging and Developing Europe Latin America and the CaribbeanMiddle East, North Africa, and Pakistan

Regional Rankings

0–10%

10–20%

20–30%

30–40%

40–50%

50–60%

60–70%

70–80%

80–90%

90–100% Most

competitive

Least

competitive

Not covered

Global Competitiveness Index Percentile Rank

Note: Unless mentioned otherwise, the ranks cited in the country and regional highlights are the Global Competitiveness Index overall rank among 144 economies.

Switzerl

and

Singap

ore

United

Stat

es

Finlan

d

German

y

Japa

n

Hong K

ong S

AR

Netherl

ands

United

King

dom

Sweden

Norway

Denmark

Taiw

an, C

hina

Canad

a

New Z

ealan

d

Belgium

Luxe

mbour

g

Austria

Austra

lia

Fran

ce

Irelan

d

Korea

, Rep

.Isr

ael

Estonia

Icelan

d

Puerto

Rico

Spain

Portug

al

Czech

Rep

ublic

Latvi

aMalt

aIta

ly

Cypru

s

Sloven

ia

Slovak

Rep

ublic

Greece

Lithu

ania

Poland

Turke

y

Bulgari

a

Roman

ia

Hunga

ry

Maced

onia,

FYR

Monten

egro

Croati

a

Serbia

Albania

Malays

iaChin

a

Thail

and

Indon

esia

Philipp

ines

Vietna

mInd

ia

Sri Lan

ka

Lao P

DR

Cambo

dia

Mongo

liaNep

al

Bhutan

Bangla

desh

Myanm

ar

Timor-

Leste

Azerb

aijan

Kazak

hstan

Russia

n Fed

eratio

n

Georg

ia

Ukraine

Moldov

a

Armen

ia

Tajik

istan

Kyrgyz

Rep

ublic

United

Arab

Emira

tesQata

r

Saudi

Arabia

Kuwait

Bahrai

nOman

Jord

an

Moroc

co

Algeria

Iran,

Islam

ic Rep

.

Tunis

ia

Leba

non

Egypt

Libya

Pakist

an

Maurita

nia

Yemen

Chile

Panam

a

Costa

Rica

Barbad

osBraz

il

Mexico Peru

Colombia

Guatem

ala

Urugu

ay

El Salv

ador

Jamaic

a

Trinid

ad an

d To

bago

Nicarag

ua

Hondu

ras

Domini

can R

epub

lic

Argen

tina

Bolivia

Surina

me

Guyan

a

Paragu

ay

Vene

zuela Hait

i

Mauriti

us

South

Africa

Rwanda

Botsw

ana

Namibi

a

Kenya

Seych

elles

Zambia

Gabon

Leso

tho

Ghana

Seneg

al

Cape V

erde

Côte d

'Ivoir

e

Camero

on

Ethiop

ia

Tanz

ania

Ugand

a

Swazila

nd

Zimba

bwe

Gambia

, The

Nigeria Mali

Madag

asca

r

Malawi

Mozam

bique

Burkin

a Fas

o

Sierra

Leon

e

Burun

di

Angola

Chad

Guinea

Workforce ethics

Policyinstability

Other

Other Other Other

Other Other Other

ASEAN Brazil China European Union

Gulf Cooperation Council Nigeria United States

Access to finance

Access to finance

Access to finance

Access to financeAccess to financeAccess to finance

Red tapeRed tape

Red tape

Red tape

Red tape

Red tape

Red tape

Infrastructure Infrastructure Infrastructure

InfrastructureLabor regulations

Labor regulations

Labor regulations

Labor regulations

Tax regulations

Tax regulations

Tax regulations

Tax regulations

Corruption

Corruption

Corruption

Inadequatelyeducated workforce

Inadequatelyeducatedworkforce

Tax rates

Tax rates

Tax rates

MAURITANIA

AVG.

AVG. AVG. AVG.AVG. AVG.AVG.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 22 23 25 26 2729 30 32

35 36 37 47 49 58 70 75 81

38 50 5369 76 82 85 91

108

2028

31 3452

68 71 7393 95 98 103 109

134 136

4142 43 45 54 59 60 63 67 7794 97

3348 51 55 57 61 65 66 78 80 84 86 89 99 100 101 104 105 110 117 120

131137

12 1624

40 44 4664 72 79 83 87

113 119 126 129

141 142

3956 62

7488 90 92 96 106 107 111 112 114 115 116 118 121 122 123 124 125 127 128 130

132 133 135 138 139 140143 144

102

Switzerl

and

Singap

ore

United

Stat

es

Finlan

d

German

y

Japa

n

Hong K

ong S

AR

Netherl

ands

United

King

dom

Sweden

Norway

Denmark

Taiw

an, C

hina

Canad

a

New Z

ealan

d

Belgium

Luxe

mbour

g

Austria

Austra

lia

Fran

ce

Irelan

d

Korea

, Rep

.Isr

ael

Estonia

Icelan

d

Puerto

Rico

Spain

Portug

al

Czech

Rep

ublic

Latvi

aMalt

aIta

ly

Cypru

s

Sloven

ia

Slovak

Rep

ublic

Greece

Lithu

ania

Poland

Turke

y

Bulgari

a

Roman

ia

Hunga

ry

Maced

onia,

FYR

Monten

egro

Croati

a

Serbia

Albania

Azerb

aijan

Kazak

hstan

Russia

n Fed

eratio

n

Georg

ia

Ukraine

Moldov

a

Armen

ia

Tajik

istan

Kyrgyz

Rep

ublic

Malays

iaChin

a

Thail

and

Indon

esia

Philipp

ines

Vietna

mInd

ia

Sri Lan

ka

Lao P

DR

Cambo

dia

Mongo

liaNep

al

Bhutan

Bangla

desh

Myanm

ar

Timor-

Leste

United

Arab

Emira

tesQata

r

Saudi

Arabia

Kuwait

Bahrai

nOman

Jord

an

Moroc

co

Algeria

Iran,

Islam

ic Rep

.

Tunis

ia

Leba

non

Egypt

Libya

Pakist

an

Maurita

nia

Yemen

Chile

Panam

a

Costa

Rica

Barbad

osBraz

il

Mexico Peru

Colombia

Guatem

ala

Urugu

ay

El Salv

ador

Jamaic

a

Trinid

ad an

d To

bago

Nicarag

ua

Hondu

ras

Domini

can R

epub

lic

Argen

tina

Bolivia

Surina

me

Guyan

a

Paragu

ay

Vene

zuela Hait

i

Mauriti

us

South

Africa

Rwanda

Botsw

ana

Namibi

a

Kenya

Seych

elles

Zambia

Gabon

Leso

tho

Ghana

Seneg

al

Cape V

erde

Côte d

'Ivoir

e

Camero

on

Ethiop

ia

Tanz

ania

Ugand

a

Swazila

nd

Zimba

bwe

Gambia

, The

Nigeria Mali

Madag

asca

r

Malawi

Mozam

bique

Burkin

a Fas

o

Sierra

Leon

e

Burun

di

Angola

Chad

Guinea

Switzerl

and

Singap

ore

United

Stat

es

Finlan

d

German

y

Japa

n

Hong K

ong S

AR

Netherl

ands

United

King

dom

Sweden

Norway

Denmark

Taiw

an, C

hina

Canad

a

New Z

ealan

d

Belgium

Luxe

mbour

g

Austria

Austra

lia

Fran

ce

Irelan

d

Korea

, Rep

.Isr

ael

Estonia

Icelan

d

Puerto

Rico

Spain

Portug

al

Czech

Rep

ublic

Latvi

aMalt

aIta

ly

Cypru

s

Sloven

ia

Slovak

Rep

ublic

Greece

Lithu

ania

Poland

Turke

y

Bulgari

a

Roman

ia

Hunga

ry

Maced

onia,

FYR

Monten

egro

Croati

a

Serbia

Albania

Azerb

aijan

Kazak

hstan

Russia

n Fed

eratio

n

Georg

ia

Ukraine

Moldov

a

Armen

ia

Tajik

istan

Kyrgyz

Rep

ublic

Malays

iaChin

a

Thail

and

Indon

esia

Philipp

ines

Vietna

mInd

ia

Sri Lan

ka

Lao P

DR

Cambo

dia

Mongo

liaNep

al

Bhutan

Bangla

desh

Myanm

ar

Timor-

Leste

United

Arab

Emira

tesQata

r

Saudi

Arabia

Kuwait

Bahrai

nOman

Jord

an

Moroc

co

Algeria

Iran,

Islam

ic Rep

.

Tunis

ia

Leba

non

Egypt

Libya

Pakist

an

Maurita

nia

Yemen

Chile

Panam

a

Costa

Rica

Barbad

osBraz

il

Mexico Peru

Colombia

Guatem

ala

Urugu

ay

El Salv

ador

Jamaic

a

Trinid

ad an

d To

bago

Nicarag

ua

Hondu

ras

Domini

can R

epub

lic

Argen

tina

Bolivia

Surina

me

Guyan

a

Paragu

ay

Vene

zuela Hait

i

Mauriti

us

South

Africa

Rwanda

Botsw

ana

Namibi

a

Kenya

Seych

elles

Zambia

Gabon

Leso

tho

Ghana

Seneg

al

Cape V

erde

Côte d

'Ivoir

e

Camero

on

Ethiop

ia

Tanz

ania

Ugand

a

Swazila

nd

Zimba

bwe

Gambia

, The

Nigeria Mali

Madag

asca

r

Malawi

Mozam

bique

Burkin

a Fas

o

Sierra

Leon

e

Burun

di

Angola

Chad

Guinea

United StatesThe United States rises to 3rd position on the back of improvements in a number of areas, including institutional framework, business sophistication and innovation. Yet it still remains to be seen whether these improvements will be sufficient to drive economic recovery over the longer term.

Latin AmericaLatin America needs to address its productivity challenge and boost competitiveness to keep the positive economic momentum of past years. The region must implement structural reforms to improve the functioning of its markets and invest in infrastructure, skills development and innovation.

EuropeThere is a stark competitiveness divide in Europe between highly productive countries and those lagging behind. The divide should also be viewed as one between those countries that are implementing the necessary structural reforms and those that are not.

NigeriaAfrica’s largest economy both in terms of GDP and population drops seven places this year and is now ranked 127th. To put the country on a sustainable path to long-run growth, basic requirements for competitiveness—institutions, infrastructure, health and primary education—need to be prioritized.

SwitzerlandSwitzerland ranks 1st for the sixth consecutive year, thanks to excellent results in most areas underpinning competitiveness. This includes innovation, business sophistication, higher education and labour market efficiency. Looking ahead, business-es and research institutions may increasingly face difficulties in finding the talent they need to preserve their outstanding capacity for innovation, key to Switzerland’s prosperity.

Sub-Saharan AfricaThere are large regional variations in competitiveness in sub-Saharan Africa—ranging from Mauritius at 39th to Guinea at 144th. To turn current high growth rates into sustainable and inclusive growth, countries in the region must address the infrastructure deficit and provide their rising young populations with the necessary skills to engage in higher value-added employment.

United Arab EmiratesThe United Arab Emirates (12th) takes the lead in the Middle East and North Africa region this year. The reforms put in place to enhance competitiveness are paying off: its institutional frame-work, infrastructure, macroeconomic stability and ICT infrastructure have all improved.

IndiaOn a downward trend since 2007 and dropping by 11 more places this year, India ranks 71st. The new gov-ernment faces the challenge of addressing the country’s competitiveness weaknesses and reviving the economy, which is currently growing at half the rate of 2010.

The Global Competitiveness MapKey Findings

Reforming for Prosperity

Global recovery to date has to a large extent been driven by monetary policy. To secure long-term growth, high-quality job creation and sustained prosperity will require decision-makers to raise productiv-ity and competitiveness through structural reform. Progress on this score has been uneven to date, in advanced and emerging economies alike.

Smart Investing

Smart investment in skills and innovation is key to enhanced productivity and com-petitiveness. It also supports more inclusive growth by allowing everyone to contribute to and benefit from higher levels of prosperity. Economies that consistently rank high in the competitiveness rankings are those that are able to develop, attract and retain talent, and constantly introduce new and higher val-ue-added products and services into the market.

Public-Private Collaboration

Effective collaboration between business, government and civil society is a necessary prerequisite if reforms and investment are to raise productivity and competitiveness. This calls for strong public and private leader-ship, a clear vision and effective and ongo-ing communication to build trust between all parties. It is therefore crucial to create mechanisms and fora to promote dialogue.

Most Problematic Factors for Doing BusinessHere are the five most problematic factors for doing business in selected (individual or group of) economies based on the results of the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey 2014 . Southeast Asia

The competitiveness dynamics in the Southeast Asia region are truly remark-able. Behind Singapore (2nd), the region’s five largest countries (ASEAN-5), Malaysia (20th), Thailand (31st), Indonesia (34th), the Philippines (52th)—the most improved country since 2010—and Vietnam (68th), have all progressed in the rankings. This contrasts starkly with the weak performance of most South Asian nations.

Note: From a list of 16 issues, Survey respondents were asked to select the five most problematic for doing business in their country and to rank them between 1 (most problematic) and 5. In the charts above, slices are drawn according to weighted scores out of 100.