Singapore has once again topped a global ranking of government effectiveness, while the eight ASEAN countries included in the index occupy positions ranging from first to 98th.
The finding comes from the sixth edition of the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), released in May 2026 by Singapore-based Chandler Governance Group, an international organization focused on public-sector effectiveness. The 2026 index uses data collected through December 1, 2025, and assesses 133 governments through 35 indicators grouped into seven pillars.
Eight of ASEAN’s 11 member states are included in this year’s index: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Laos. Brunei, Myanmar and Timor-Leste are not among the 133 governments assessed.
Four Years at the Top
Singapore has retained the top position for four consecutive years, ahead of Norway in second and Denmark in third.
It ranks first globally in five of the seven pillars: Leadership & Foresight, Strong Institutions, Financial Stewardship, Attractive Marketplace, and Helping People Rise.
For the two remaining pillars, Singapore ranks tied for eighth globally in Robust Laws & Policies and tied for 21st in Global Influence & Reputation.
ASEAN’s Rankings Reveal Strong Points Beyond the Overall Score
The seven other ASEAN countries included in the index are spread across positions 40 to 98. Their global rankings are:
- Singapore — 1st
- Malaysia — 40th
- Indonesia — 48th
- Viet Nam — 49th
- Thailand — 58th
- Philippines — 59th
- Cambodia — 91st
- Laos — 98th
The individual pillars reveal a different picture in several countries. Financial Stewardship, which covers government debt, budget conditions, spending efficiency and sovereign risk, is a particularly high-ranked area for some ASEAN members.
Viet Nam ranks 49th overall but 12th globally in Financial Stewardship. Thailand ranks 58th overall and 18th in this pillar, while Indonesia ranks 48th overall and 19th.
Cambodia ranks 91st overall but 33rd in Financial Stewardship. Most of its other pillars rank below 90th, with Helping People Rise as an exception at 74th.
Global Influence & Reputation, which covers international trade, diplomacy, national reputation and passport strength, shows a different pattern.
Viet Nam ranks 83rd on this pillar, compared with 49th overall. Cambodia ranks 97th, compared with 91st overall, while Laos ranks 122nd, compared with 98th overall. Singapore ranks tied for 21st globally.
Different Strengths Across the Region
Indonesia ranks 48th overall, with Financial Stewardship at 19th globally and Leadership & Foresight at 23rd as its two highest-ranked pillars. Its lowest-ranked pillar is Helping People Rise, at 71st.
Malaysia ranks 40th overall, with Leadership & Foresight and Attractive Marketplace as its highest-ranked pillars, both at 29th globally. Strong Institutions ranks 64th, tied with several other countries.
Laos ranks 98th out of 133 governments, the lowest among the eight ASEAN countries included in the index. Its strongest performance comes in Leadership & Foresight, where it ranks tied for 39th globally.
Its weakest pillars are Global Influence & Reputation, at 122nd, and Robust Laws & Policies, tied at 120th. The other six pillars all rank 77th or lower.
The CGGI uses 35 equally weighted indicators across seven pillars. Leadership & Foresight covers ethical leadership, long-term vision, adaptability, strategic priorities and innovation. Robust Laws & Policies covers the rule of law, judicial quality, transparency and regulatory governance.
Globally, 61 percent of the governments included in the 2026 index recorded higher scores than in 2025. According to Chandler Governance Group, this was the largest annual improvement since the index was first launched in 2021.
