Singapore has ranked second globally in the 2026 World Digital and AI Ranking released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) on November 11. It was the highest-ranked Southeast Asian economy among the 70 countries and territories assessed.
The United States secured first place, while the Netherlands ranked third. Singapore received a score of 99.79 out of 100, placing it among the leading economies in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence readiness.
The ranking assessed economies across five factors: governance, technology and infrastructure, efficiency, workforce development and values. Singapore was the only economy to secure a position in the global top five across all five categories.
Malaysia ranked 27th globally, making it the second-highest Southeast Asian economy. It improved seven positions from the previous year and ranked 14th worldwide for AI adoption.
Vietnam placed 37th, followed by Thailand at 43rd, Indonesia at 47th and the Philippines at 53rd. Vietnam ranked 13th globally for AI adoption and 15th for digital and AI governance.
The 2026 ranking replaces IMD’s earlier World Digital Competitiveness Ranking. Its revised framework places greater emphasis on how effectively economies adopt artificial intelligence, establish governance frameworks and build public trust in emerging technologies.
IMD assessed 88 criteria across the five factors. The indicators include digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, workforce capabilities and the ability of governments and businesses to use AI productively.
The results place Singapore ahead of other Southeast Asian economies in the regional assessment, reflecting its performance across technology, governance and workforce development.
