Thailand has fallen five positions in the latest IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, released on June 17, 2025. The country now occupies the 30th spot among 69 economies, a decline from its previous 25th position in 2024.

The ranking, compiled by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), assesses global competitiveness across four major pillars:

1. Economic Performance: Thailand experienced a drop to 8th place from 5th last year.
2. Government Efficiency: This category witnessed the most significant decline, with Thailand slipping to 32nd from 24th.
3. Business Efficiency: Thailand's ranking in this area decreased to 24th, down from 20th.
4. Infrastructure: The country's infrastructure ranking also fell, moving to 47th from 43rd.

The report identified five critical challenges that Thailand confronts in 2025:

• The need to develop a multifaceted, agile strategy to address tariff incidents.
• The necessity to explore options for economic stabilization against geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainties.
• Support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adapt to global requirements regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.
• The imperative to implement swift interventions to bridge the talent gap in essential industries.
• The encouragement of private-sector partnerships to address economic and social issues within the country.

In the context of the Asia-Pacific region, the top ten economies in the 2025 IMD ranking are:

1. Switzerland (+1 position)
2. Singapore (–1)
3. Hong Kong (+2)
4. Denmark (–1)
5. United Arab Emirates (+2)
6. Taiwan (+2)
7. Ireland (–3)
8. Sweden (–2)
9. Qatar (+2)
10. Netherlands (–1)

In 2024, Thailand had achieved a notable improvement by rising five ranks to 25th place, but it has now reverted to its 2023 ranking.