101: Georgia in International Rankings

Positions in international rankings are an important indicator of how a country is performing with regard to its economic, social and political environment. In this bulletin, Georgia’s positions in international rankings and their dynamics will be reviewed based on recent data.

The Global Competitiveness Index

Source:The Global Competetiveness Index reports (2010-2017)

Georgia was ranked 67^th among 137 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index¹ in 2017.

This represented a drop of eight places in the rankings compared to the previous year, the first time Georgia had gone down in the rankings since 2009.

Among the so-called pillars measured to calculate the Global Competitiveness Index in 2017, Georgia scored best in terms of its macroeconomic environment (48^th place) while it was least competitive in terms of innovation (118^th place).

Among the Eastern Partnership countries² in 2017, Azerbaijan was the top performer in this Global Competetiveness Index (35^th place), while Moldova held the lowest position in the index (89^th place).

The Ease of Doing Business

Georgia was ranked 9^th among 190 countries in the Ease of Doing Business³ ranking in 2017.

Compared to 2016 Georgia improved its position in the Ease of Doing Business ranking by seven places.

Among the ten indicators of the Ease of Doing Business ranking in 2017, Georgia’s best result was in the protecting minority investors indicator (2^nd place) while its lowest position was in the trading across borders indicator (62^nd place).

Among the Eastern Partnership countries in 2017, Georgia was the top performer in this Ease of Doing Business ranking (9^th place), while Ukraine fared the worst (76^th place).

 Source: The Ease of Doing Business reports (2010-2017)

Source: The Global Innovation Index reports (2010-2017)

Georgia ranked 68^th among 127 countries in the Global Innovation Index⁴ in 2017.

Georgia’s position in the Global Innovation Index ranking in 2017 was a drop of four places compared to 2016. Between 2014 and 2016, Georgia had been steadily rising in this ranking.

Among the seven pillars of the Global Innovation Index, Georgia performed best in the institutions pillar (47^th place) but fared worst in business sophistication assessment  (101^st place).

Among the Eastern Partnership countries in 2017, Ukraine was the top performer in this Global Innovation Index (50^th place), while Belarus occupied the worst position in the index (88^th place).

The Enabling Trade Index

Source: The Enabling Trade Reports (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)

Georgia ranked 41^st among 136 countries in the latest release of the World Economic Forum’s Enabling Trade Index⁵ (in 2016 report, 4.8 score).

In 2016 Georgia’s position in the Enabling Trade Index improved by five places Compared to 2014.

Among the various pillars on which the ranking is calculated, in 2016 Georgia performed best in the domestic market access pillar (9^th place) and worst in availability and quality of transport services (98^th place).

Among the Eastern Partnership countries in 2016, in the Enabling Trade Index Georgia was the top performer (41^st place), while Ukraine occupied the worst position (95^th place).

The Logistics Performance Index

In the World Bank’s 2016 Logistics Performance Index⁶ Georgia ranked 130^th among 160 countries (2.35 points).

Georgia’s position in the Logistics Performance Index worsened by 14 places compared to 2014.

In 2016, among the six pillars of the Global Logistics Performance Index  Georgia performed best in the tracking and tracing pillar (112^th place), and worst in the logistics quality and competence pillar (146^th place).

Among the Eastern Partnership countries in 2016, Ukraine was the top performer in the Logistics Performance Index (80^th place), while Armenia occupied the lowest position (141^st place).

Source: The Logistics Performance index reports (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)

The Economic Freedom Index

Source: The Economic Freedom Index reports (2010-2018)

In the Heritage Foundation’s Economic Freedom Index⁷ Georgia ranks 16^th among 180 countries in 2018.

Georgia’s position in 2018 Economic Freedom Index represents a fall of three places compared to the previous year.

In 2018, among the 12 indicators of the Economic Freedom Index, Georgia scored highest in the fiscal health indicator (91.8 score), and lowest in the financial freedom indicator (60 score).

Among the Eastern Partnership countries in 2018, Georgia is the top performer in the Economic Freedom Index (16^th place), while Ukraine ranks lowest (150^th place).

      Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia                                                                                                                   *Preliminary Data
                    National Bank of Georgia
                    Ministry of Finance of Georgia

¹The World Economic forum’s Global Competitiveness Index consists of 12 pillars, combining 114 indicators.

²Eastern Partnership countries: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Belarus, and Ukraine.

³The Ease of Doing Business ranking is published by the World Bank, and consists of 10 indicators, made up of 49 sub-indicators.

⁴The Global Innovation Index is published by Cornell University, INSEAD (The Business School for the World) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The index consists of seven pillars, comprising 81 indicators.

⁵The World Economic Forum’s Global Enabling Trade Index is published once every two years. The last report was published in 2016. The index consists of seven pillars, comprising 57 indicators.  

⁶The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index is published every two years. The last report was published in 2016. The index consists of six pillars.

⁷The Economic Freedom Index is published by the Heritage Foundation, and consists of 12 indicators.