Thailand slips in digital competitiveness index

Dip attributed to weak private investment in Al

- SUCHIT LEESA-NGUANSUK

Thailand has slipped one spot to 38th out of 69 economies in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR) 2025 by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), attributed to a slide in the technology ranking from 23rd to 29th.

The dip is due to weak private investment in artificial intelligence (AI), according to the Thailand Management Association (TMA).

The index studied 69 economies, including Kenya, Namibia and Oman for the first time, by looking at three factors (knowledge, technology and future readiness) and nine sub-factors for a total of 61 criteria.

Switzerland ranked first, followed by the US and Singapore. Global trade tensions are infiltrating national digital strategies, and firms and nations must respond to remain competitive, according to the IMD.

For Thailand, all sub-factors under the technology category, covering regulatory framework, capital and technological infrastructure, recorded declines.