Tajikistan Trails in Innovation, Bottom of Post-Soviet Rankings in Global Index

Tajikistan has been ranked 108th out of 139 countries in the 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII), making it the lowest-ranking former Soviet republic.

The ranking highlights ongoing concerns about the country’s limited innovation capacity, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

The country slipped one position compared to 2024, continuing a downward trend in innovation performance. Innovation-encompassing new ideas, technologies, and methods that improve efficiency, solve problems, and enhance processes-is critical for economic growth, technological progress, and overall quality of life.

Among post-Soviet states, Estonia leads at 16th place, followed by Lithuania (33rd), Latvia (41st), and Georgia (56th). Other regional rankings include Armenia (59th), Russia (60th), Ukraine (66th), Moldova (74th), Uzbekistan (79th), Kazakhstan (81st), Belarus (85th), Azerbaijan (94th), and Kyrgyzstan (96th). Turkmenistan was not included in this year’s index.

Globally, Switzerland, Sweden, the US, South Korea, and Singapore top the index, while the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and China entered the top 10 for the first time. The lowest-ranking countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Niger.

The GII report notes that global innovation progress is being constrained by declining investment in research and development. The index evaluates performance using around 80 indicators, including R&D spending, venture capital activity, high-tech exports, and intellectual property filings.

Published annually since 2007, the Global Innovation Index is a key tool for policymakers, business leaders, and institutions to foster innovation and develop sustainable innovation ecosystems. The 2025 edition was jointly prepared by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Portulans Institute and is recognized by the United Nations General Assembly as an authoritative source for science, technology, and innovation policy.