Puerto Rico rises in global competitiveness rankings, taking 45th place
Puerto Rico has moved up to 45th place out of 69 economies in the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, climbing four spots from last year.
The higher ranking reflects advances in government efficiency, business climate and infrastructure, contributing to its appeal for investors.
“Puerto Rico’s rise in the rankings highlights the impact of strategic business attraction policies and a shared vision for economic growth,” said Ella Woger-Nieves, CEO of Invest Puerto Rico. “Our competitiveness on the global stage is growing, and this recognition affirms to investors that Puerto Rico offers opportunity, talent and stability.”
According to the 2025 report, Puerto Rico made the most progress in business efficiency (35th, up 10 places), government efficiency (43rd, up seven spots), and infrastructure (42nd, up six places).
These results reflect Puerto Rico’s expanding ability to support sectors such as aerospace, life sciences and technology, Invest Puerto Rico said.
Regionally, the island now ranks fourth in the Americas, ahead of larger economies such as Colombia, Mexico and Brazil. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, published by the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development, evaluates economies across four pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.
“This progress underscores the success of our collaborative efforts to build a dynamic, business-friendly environment,” said Sebastián Negrón-Reichard, Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC, in Spanish).
“There’s no question that Puerto Rico is emerging as a top U.S. jurisdiction for investment, innovation, nearshoring and more. We still have a lot of work to do — we’re just getting started,” he said.
The improved standing also raises Puerto Rico’s visibility as a location for companies seeking operational stability within a U.S. jurisdiction. Invest Puerto Rico, DDEC and academic institutions said they will use the findings to help shape future economic policies.
