Which countries have the world's best governments? Only one Middle Eastern nation featured in top 10 list

A report by Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) 2025 revealed that only one country from the Middle East featured in the top 10 list. The Chandler Index is an annual report that measures the capabilities and effectiveness of 113 governments based on 35 unique indicators. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the only country to feature in the list at 9th position with an index score of 0.780. However, the list has been topped by another Asian country, Singapore followed by Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Germany.

For the UAE government, led by Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, this is a five-position jump from 2024, from where it held a 19-position since 2021. 

The achievements that won the UAE the laurels include its performance in Leadership and financial sectors. As per the report, the UAE dominated six key pillars, including Leadership and Foresight where it was sub-ranked second. As for Financial Management, the UAE was ranked third while it came eighth in Attractive Marketplace and 10th in Strong Institutions. The country was also hailed for its adaptability, strategic prioritisation, innovation, implementation and budget surplus.

Interestingly, India has only managed to come 71st with an index score of 0.479. India scored 71st in Leadership and Foresight but 58th in Global Influence and Reputation. As for Attractive Marketplace, it is only in the 73rd position and is stuck at the 80th position in Helping People Rise.

The other Middle Eastern nations in the list include Saudi Arabia at 38th position and Kuwait at 53rd.

Middle East