Pakistan has improved its position in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index 2026, climbing four places to rank 95th among 139 economies. The country has also regained its innovation overperformer status for the fourth time, a distinction given to economies that achieve stronger innovation results than expected for their level of economic development. Pakistan previously held this status in 2022 and 2024. The latest ranking marks an improvement from 99th place in 2025 and reflects progress in the country’s innovation outputs, although its overall position continues to indicate challenges in developing the resources and institutions needed to support innovation.
According to the report, Pakistan performed better in innovation outputs than in innovation inputs during 2026. The country ranked 121st in innovation inputs, compared with 72nd in innovation outputs, with both positions improving from the previous year. Innovation inputs include factors such as institutions, human capital, research, infrastructure, market sophistication and business sophistication. Outputs measure the results generated through innovation, including knowledge, technology and creative activities. WIPO identified Pakistan’s strengths in the digital economy, particularly mobile application creation, ICT services exports, high-tech imports and software spending. The report also noted that the country’s scientific production and university quality contribute to its developing digital economy.
Pakistan ranked 15th among 36 lower-middle-income economies and eighth among 11 economies in Central and Southern Asia. Despite its improvement in the overall index, the country did not feature among the leading economies in any individual innovation pillar. Its performance therefore reflects areas of relative strength alongside gaps in the broader innovation ecosystem. Pakistan’s ranking history shows fluctuations over recent years, moving from 107th in 2020 to 87th in 2022, before reaching 99th in 2025. The latest improvement brings the country to its highest position since 2022, while the overperformer designation highlights its ability to generate innovation results beyond what its development level would typically suggest.
Switzerland retained the top position in the 2026 index for the 16th consecutive year, followed by Sweden and the United States. South Korea and Singapore ranked fourth and fifth, while China remained in 10th place as the only middle-income economy among the top 10. WIPO’s findings point to continued progress in global innovation, although growth across several indicators remains below long-term averages. For Pakistan, the report identifies opportunities to build on digital services, software development, scientific research and mobile application creation. Sustained improvements in research capacity, infrastructure, business investment and institutional support will remain important for translating existing strengths into broader innovation performance.
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