TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — CommonWealth Magazine ranked Taiwan seventh among 15 economies in a new competitiveness survey released Tuesday for its 45th anniversary special issue.
The economies surveyed were the US, China, the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, and Mexico.
The survey used five indicators to compare how economies are responding to changes in technology, geopolitics, climate, and society. The indicators were alignment, resilience, technology, inclusion, and AI readiness.
Taiwan ranked first in inclusion, supported by strong health care, education, and social stability. However, the report said the gap between students from wealthy and low-income families is growing, making it harder for education to improve social mobility.
Taiwan ranked second in resilience, helped by strong business planning and crisis response. The report said weak energy and food self-sufficiency remain major risks for the country.
Taiwan ranked fourth in technology, mainly because of its strong semiconductor industry. The report said Taiwan still needs to improve in newer fields such as AI, biotechnology, space technology, and quantum technology.
Taiwan ranked 10th in AI readiness, despite early government steps to set rules for AI. The report said Taiwan’s AI infrastructure and AI adoption remain weak compared with several other countries, including India.
Taiwan ranked 14th in what the magazine called “alignment,” a measure of a country’s global connections. The report said Taiwan’s limited formal diplomatic ties and heavy reliance on a few trade partners make this one of its biggest weaknesses.
CommonWealth Magazine said Taiwan has clear strengths, but also faces deep structural challenges. It said Taiwan must improve AI readiness and global links while maintaining its advantages in resilience and inclusion.
