The World Intellectual Foundation (WIF) has released the Responsible Nations Index (RNI) 2026, a comprehensive global framework assessing 154 countries on ethical governance, social well-being, environmental stewardship, and global responsibility — going beyond traditional measures of economic power.
Singapore has claimed the top spot with an overall score of 0.619, making it the world's most responsible nation and the only Asia-Pacific country to break into the top 15, a testament to its clean governance, strong institutions, and long-term policy planning.
The index draws on 58 quantitative indicators spanning human dignity, social justice, climate action, and international cooperation, with the top 10 largely dominated by smaller European nations such as Switzerland (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Cyprus (4th), and Sweden (5th) among them.
Notably, India ranks 16th globally, outperforming major economies including the United States (66th), China (68th), and Pakistan (90th), with Bangladesh also surpassing both the US and China at 42nd place.
The RNI is the result of a three-year academic and policy research initiative spearheaded by WIF, with key scholarly contributions from Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai, underlining the index's rigorous, research-backed credibility.
