Nigeria ranks low in Global Talent Competitiveness: coming at a distant 114

Nigeria still has a very long way to go in talent development and competitiveness. The 2025 edition of the global talent competitiveness index placed the African Giant at a distant 114 out of 135 countries.

As expected, most of the African countries are in the bottom part of the Global Talent Competitiveness index. The highest ranking African countries on the index are Mauritius (49), Seychelles (50), South Africa (79), Cape Verde (83), Botswana (85), Tunisia (88), Namibia (90), Egypt (94), Algeria (96), Morocco (98), Kenya (99) and Rwanda (101)

The least ranked African countries are Mauritania (121), Benin (122), Uganda (123), Burundi (125), Angola (126), Mali (127), Mozambique (128), Burkina Faso (130), Madagascar (131), Congo DR (133) and Niger (134)

Singapore dethroned long-time leader Switzerland to claim the No. 1 spot in the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI), marking a historic milestone for the city-state. The achievement is attributed to its world-class education ecosystem, transparent and efficient governance, strategic investments in lifelong learning, and forward-looking policies that prepare its workforce for the artificial intelligence era.

Released today, the 11th annual edition of the GTCI—produced by INSEAD in partnership with the Washington, D.C.-based Portulans Institute—evaluated 135 economies across every income level using 77 quantitative and qualitative indicators. This year’s theme, “Resilience in the Age of Disruption,” underscores the growing importance of adaptable, future-ready talent amid rapid technological transformation, geopolitical volatility, and sweeping societal change.

“As rapid technological change, geopolitical uncertainty, and profound societal transitions reshape the world of work, dependable talent metrics have never been more essential,” said Rafael Escalona Reynoso, CEO of the Portulans Institute.

A Decade of Evolution, a New Chapter Begins

Launched in 2013 by INSEAD in collaboration with Singapore’s Human Capital Leadership Institute and the Adecco Group, the GTCI was created to fill a critical gap: a rigorous, data-driven tool to measure how effectively nations develop, attract, and retain talent to drive innovation and economic competitiveness.

Over the past twelve years, the index has become the global benchmark in human capital research, shaping government strategies, corporate talent policies, and academic debate on labour markets and productivity.

The 2025 report marks a major turning point with the establishment of a new long-term partnership between INSEAD and the Portulans Institute. This collaboration aims to preserve the intellectual integrity and methodological robustness that have defined the GTCI while deepening its coverage of emerging talent dynamics—particularly those driven by AI, remote work, and sustainability imperatives.

How the GTCI Works: The Six-Pillar Framework

At its heart, the GTCI uses an Input–Output model that views national talent competitiveness as a country’s ability to enable, attract, grow, and retain talent—and then convert that talent into high-value outcomes.

Input Pillars (what countries do):

• Enable: Regulatory quality, ease of doing business, safety, and market efficiency
• Attract: Ability to draw foreign talent and investment
• Grow: Quality of education, lifelong learning, and access to growth opportunities
• Retain: Quality of life, sustainability, and policies that keep talent from leaving

Output Pillars (what countries achieve):

• Vocational & Technical Skills (VT Skills): Availability of mid-level and specialised technical competencies
• Generalist & Adaptive Skills (GA Skills): Creativity, critical thinking, leadership, and the capacity to thrive in uncertainty

By linking policy inputs directly to measurable skill outputs, the GTCI offers leaders a clear diagnostic tool to identify strengths, gaps, and reform priorities.

As the world enters an era defined by disruption, the 2025 GTCI sends a powerful message: countries that invest boldly in resilient, inclusive, and adaptive talent ecosystems—exactly as Singapore has done—are the ones best positioned to prosper in an unpredictable future.

“While historians can give us more perspective, it certainly feels as if we are living in a period of maximum disruption and anxiety,” said INSEAD’s dean of research and innovation, Lily Fang. “Geopolitical uncertainty poses massive challenges to the resilience of global commerce and markets, while artificial intelligence presents both amazing opportunities to enhance human potential — but also unfathomable risks.”

Top Ten Countries

Here are the top 10 countries in the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index:

1. Singapore
2. Switzerland
3. Denmark
4. Finland
5. Sweden
6. Netherlands
7. Norway
8. Luxembourg
9. United States
10. Australia

Singapore’s historic rise to the No. 1 spot in the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index ended Switzerland’s decade-long reign at the summit—the first time the Alpine nation has ever been displaced from the top since the GTCI’s launch in 2013. Despite the drop to 2nd place, Switzerland still posted an impressive array of podium finishes: 1st globally for internet access in schools, 2nd for government effectiveness, and 4th for net migration of AI-skilled professionals.

Europe Economies

Europe’s high-income economies continue to assert overwhelming dominance, claiming seven of the top ten slots overall. A distinctive Nordic surge is also evident this year: Denmark climbed one rung to 3rd (from 4th in 2023), Finland leapt two places to 4th (from 6th), and Sweden recorded the biggest jump inside the top tier, soaring four positions from 9th in 2023 to 5th in 2025. The report highlights that Switzerland, Denmark, and Finland form a tightly clustered trio immediately behind Singapore, united by exceptional strength in the “Enable” and “Retain” pillars—reflecting superior regulatory environments, social safety nets, quality of life, and deliberate policies to keep talent at home.

In stark contrast, the United States recorded its lowest-ever ranking since the index began, tumbling from 3rd place in 2023 to 9th in 2025. While America retains clear advantages in enabling business creation and growing talent through its performance was dragged down by noticeable slippage in openness to foreign professionals and lifelong-learning infrastructure, areas where many European and Asian peers have pulled ahead. You can download the 2025 report here