Morocco has made a significant leap in the 2025 edition of the Global Innovation Index, landing at 57th out of 139 countries—the highest position it has held since the index began. This milestone places the country for the first time among the world’s 60 most innovative economies.
In just one year, Morocco climbed nine spots, continuing a steady rise that began in 2020 when it ranked 75th. It now holds fourth place among lower-middle-income countries and ranks eighth within the North Africa and West Asia region.
This upward momentum reflects a deeper shift in Morocco’s economic landscape. The country is steadily moving away from a reliance on raw materials and low-cost manufacturing, and instead is building an economy rooted in higher-value sectors driven by technology, innovation, and intangible assets.
One of the most notable aspects of Morocco’s performance is its improved ability to convert investments into real results. While it ranks 77th in terms of innovation inputs—resources such as education, infrastructure, and funding—it climbs to 51st in outputs, which include achievements in research, technology, and creative industries. This efficiency points to a system increasingly capable of turning potential into measurable impact.
Several specific sectors highlight Morocco’s growing innovation footprint. It ranks 12th globally in high-tech manufacturing, with nearly half of its industrial output now coming from this segment. In terms of design innovation, the country is among the top 10 globally for the number of industrial designs registered relative to GDP.
Other data points further reinforce this trend. Morocco holds 16th place for education spending, 24th for labor productivity growth, and 26th in both trademark registration and intangible asset intensity. These numbers signal a rising contribution from the private sector, which is driving brand development and creating value through knowledge and intellectual property.
For the second year in a row, Morocco has been recognized as an “innovation overperformer”—a label reserved for economies that outperform expectations based on their level of development. It joins a small group of standout countries that includes India, Brazil, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Despite these gains, the report points to key challenges that still need to be addressed. It recommends increasing investment in research and development, and strengthening collaboration between businesses, research institutions, and universities. Building out advanced tech infrastructure is also identified as a crucial next step in creating a more resilient innovation ecosystem.
On the global stage, Switzerland continues to lead the rankings, followed by Sweden, the United States, South Korea, and Singapore. Rounding out the top 10 are the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and China, which has entered the upper tier for the first time.
Still, the report offers a word of caution. Despite strong performances from certain regions, there are signs of a global slowdown in innovation investment—raising concerns about medium-term prospects if the trend persists.
Now in its 18th edition, the Global Innovation Index offers a comprehensive snapshot of innovation capabilities across the globe. It evaluates nearly 80 indicators—from R&D spending and venture capital to high-tech exports and intellectual property rights—to assess how countries are building and sustaining knowledge-driven economies.
