# Global Innovation Index 2026: Pakistan climbs 4 places to 95th of 139, an 'overperformer' for the fourth time

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/technology/global-innovation-index-2026-pakistan-climbs-4-places-to-95th-of-139-an)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 30 Oct 2026
Updated: 30 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 30 Oct 2026

> WIPO's ranking credits Pakistan's app makers, ICT service exports and university research, but the country does not lead in any of the index's pillars.

**Pakistan ranks 95th of 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2026, up four places from 99th last year,** according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dawn reported. WIPO also named Pakistan an innovation "overperformer" for the fourth time, after 2022 and 2024, meaning it produces more innovation than its income level would predict.

"Innovation overperformance shows that innovation does not follow a straight line from income to results," the report says.

## Pakistan's scores

| Measure | 2026 rank |
|---|---|
| Overall | 95th of 139 |
| Innovation inputs | 121st |
| Innovation outputs | 72nd |
| Among lower middle-income economies | 15th of 36 |
| Central and southern Asia | 8th of 11 |

Both the inputs and outputs ranks improved on 2025.

## Where Pakistan does well

WIPO points to the **digital economy**: mobile app creation, exports of ICT services, high-tech imports and software spending. It also rates Pakistan's **scientific output and university quality** as relatively strong, which matches this month's Stanford-Elsevier list putting 1,034 Pakistani researchers in the world's top 2% ([our report](/news/education/top-2percent-scientists-2026-1034-pakistanis-on-stanford-elsevier-list-gcu)).

## Where it falls short

Pakistan does not rank among the leaders in any of the index's pillars, including human capital and research, and infrastructure. The gap between a 121st rank for inputs and 72nd for outputs is what earns the overperformer label: the country gets more out than it puts in, but it puts in little.

## Pakistan's rank since 2020

| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 107th |
| 2021 | 99th |
| 2022 | 87th |
| 2023 | 88th |
| 2024 | 91st |
| 2025 | 99th |
| 2026 | 95th |

The best result remains 87th in 2022. At the top of Asia, South Korea is 4th, Singapore 5th, China 10th, Japan 12th and Hong Kong 14th.

## What it means for you

ICT service exports, the strength WIPO singles out, are largely earned by Pakistan's software houses and freelancers. If you bill foreign clients, the [freelancer tax calculator](/tools/tax/freelancer-tax-calculator) shows what you owe on those earnings this year.

## Frequently asked questions

**What is Pakistan's rank in the Global Innovation Index 2026?**

95th of 139 economies, up from 99th in 2025, according to WIPO.

## Sources

- Pakistan 'overperformer' in innovation, climbs 4 ranks globally in 2026: report (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2040752/pakistan-overperformer-in-innovation-climbs-4-ranks-globally-in-2026-report

How to cite: "Global Innovation Index 2026: Pakistan climbs 4 places to 95th of 139, an 'overperformer' for the fourth time", Searchable, 30 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/technology/global-innovation-index-2026-pakistan-climbs-4-places-to-95th-of-139-an