Global index ranking

The history of global index rankings spans various key international indices that measure and rank countries across different domains such as peace, innovation, competitiveness, development, and more. Here is an overview of some prominent global indices and their historical development:

1. Global Peace Index (GPI)

   • Launched in 2007, the GPI annually ranks 120+ countries based on their level of peacefulness.

   • It tracks factors like levels of violence, conflict, militarization, and societal safety.

   • The index has expanded from ranking 121 countries at its inception to 165 countries by 2015.

   • It provides a longitudinal view of global peace and conflict trends.

2. Global Innovation Index (GII)

   • Established in 2007, it ranks economies based on their innovation capabilities and outputs.

   • The GII uses about 80 indicators covering education, infrastructure, policy environment, and knowledge creation.

   • Annual reports track shifts in innovation performance worldwide, with recent editions focusing on themes like social entrepreneurship and the impact of COVID-19 on innovation.

   • It currently ranks around 130 economies.

3. World Competitiveness Ranking (IMD)

   • Published annually for 37 years, this ranking assesses an economy’s ability to create an environment that sustains long-term prosperity.

   • It measures political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions, alongside data from senior executive surveys across about 70 countries.

   • The ranking reflects shifts in governmental efficiency, currency strength, and global trade dynamics.

4. Other Notable Global Indices

   • Human Development Index (HDI) by the United Nations Development Programme, focusing on health, education, and income.

   • Global Hunger Index, Global Firepower Index (military strength), Press Freedom Index, and many others track specific aspects of national and global standing.

Summary of Global Index Ranking History:

• Many global indices began in the early 2000s or late 2000s, reflecting increasing demand for comparable international metrics in a globalized world.

• They are usually published annually, evolving to cover more countries and wider aspects over time.

• These indices integrate diverse data sources to provide comprehensive rankings that inform policy-making, business strategy, and social research.

• The longevity and credibility of indices like the Global Peace Index, Global Innovation Index, and World Competitiveness Ranking have made them go-to references for analyzing global trends.

A global index is a standardized system or list that measures and ranks countries, organizations, or other entities based on specific economic, social, political, or environmental factors. These indexes are compiled by international organizations, research bodies, or independent institutions using consistent datasets and methodologies to enable comparison across countries or regions.

Why is a global index important?

• Measurement and Comparison: Global indexes provide a reliable, data-driven way to compare how different countries perform in specific areas—such as health, education, economy, corruption, human rights, pollution, innovation, or happiness.

• Benchmarking Progress: They help policymakers, organizations, and the public track progress or decline on critical issues over time.

• Identifying Challenges: By highlighting areas where a country lags, indexes draw attention to pressing challenges that require reform or investment.

• Influencing Policy and Investment: Many global organizations, investors, and governments use index rankings to make strategic decisions, allocate resources, and develop policies.

• Accountability and Awareness: Indexes boost transparency by making information public, encouraging governments to improve performance and helping citizens demand accountability.

In summary, global indexes are powerful tools that enhance understanding, support better policy decisions, and promote positive change by showing where progress is being made and where more effort is needed.

Here is a list of major global indexes with India’s latest ranking and the official link to each index, as found in recent and authoritative sources. All text is in paragraph format for direct website use (no columns):

India is ranked 130th out of 193 countries in the 2025 Human Development Index (HDI), released by the United Nations Development Programme, with a score of 0.685, reflecting steady progress but still in the “medium human development” category. Source: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index 

In the 2024 Global Hunger Index, India is ranked 105th out of 125/127 countries, falling into the “serious” hunger category due to ongoing challenges with undernourishment and child wasting. Source: https://www.globalhungerindex.org/ and summary report: https://testbook.com/question-answer/what-was-indias-rank-in-the-2024-global-hun--678df0434dc04b455e5f07cf 

For the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index published by the World Economic Forum, India is ranked 131st out of 148 countries, with a score of 64.4%. Progress in economic participation is offset by low political empowerment. Source: https://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2025/ and roundup: https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/india-slips-to-131st-in-global-gender-gap-index-2025-progress-and-challenges/ 

According to the Global Competitiveness Index, India ranks 40th in 2025, improving steadily over recent years, but still facing major challenges in skills, health, and infrastructure. Source: https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-competitiveness-report-2025 

On the World Press Freedom Index 2025, India’s rank is 151 out of 180 nations—a notable improvement from recent years, but it remains in the “very serious” category, indicating ongoing issues with press freedom. Source: https://rsf.org/en/index and summary: https://www.gktoday.in/indias-press-freedom-ranking-in-2025/ 

For the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024, India is ranked 96th out of 180 countries with a score of 38/100, showing little progress in tackling corruption. Source: https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024 and analysis: https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corruption-perceptions-index-2024 

In the most recent Ease of Doing Business Index, India holds the 63rd spot globally. This is its most recent published ranking until the index was discontinued. Source: https://archive.doingbusiness.org/en/rankings and background: https://tradingeconomics.com/india/ease-of-doing-business 

India was ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Environmental Performance Index, reflecting weak performance on air quality and emissions. Source: https://epi.yale.edu/ and summary: https://www.sanskritiias.com/current-affairs/environmental-performance-index-epi 

On the Climate Change Performance Index 2025, India is ranked 10th in the world, placing it in the top 10, largely due to low per-capita emissions and advances in solar energy, despite coal dependence. Source: https://www.climate-change-performance-index.org/country/india and summary: https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/climate-change-performance-index-2025-where-does-india-stand/ 

In the Global Slavery Index 2023, India has the highest number of people in modern slavery worldwide—over 11 million—and ranks 6th in Asia-Pacific for prevalence. Source: https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/country-studies/india/

India’s Labour Rights Index rating is 5 out of 5, denoting “no guarantee of rights” and one of the world’s worst records for labour protection in 2025. Source: https://labourrightsindex.org/trade-union-indicator/india

World Talent Ranking 2025 places India at 45th, showing steady progress but still significant scope for improvement. Source: https://www.imd.org/centers/wcc/world-competitiveness-center/rankings/world-talent-ranking/

World Air Quality Index data for 2025 identifies India as the third most polluted country globally, with six of the ten most polluted cities in the world located in India. Source: https://www.iqair.com/in-en/world-most-polluted-cities

India currently ranks 40th in the Global Innovation Index, showing progress in science and technology, but lagging in basic infrastructure and education. Source: https://www.globalinnovationindex.org

The Global Peace Index places India 126th in the world, reflective of internal conflicts and issues of safety. Source: https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/ and annual report.

India stands at 53rd in the Social Progress Index, indicative of ongoing challenges in basic human needs and health outcomes. Source: https://www.socialprogress.org

On the Democracy Index, India scored 7.04 and ranked 41st, retaining “flawed democracy” status in the latest Economist Intelligence Unit report. Source: https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2025/

World Happiness Report 2025 ranks India at 126th position, indicating low perceptions of wellbeing and satisfaction. Source: https://worldhappiness.report/

Chandler Good Government Index 2025 ranks India at 56th, reflecting issues in governance effectiveness and state capacity. Source: https://chandlergovernmentindex.com/country-rankings/

India is ranked 105th out of 181 countries in the Global Youth Development Index, showing a young but underutilized workforce. Source: https://www.thecommonwealth.io/youth/youth-development-index/

India’s Economic Freedom Index rank is 131st, signifying restricted economic freedoms. Source: https://www.heritage.org/index/country/india

For the Rule of Law Index, India stands at 79th, indicating moderate adherence to law and justice. Source: https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/

Logistics Performance Index places India at 38th, reflecting a growing but still maturing logistics sector. Source: https://lpi.worldbank.org/international/global/2023