The Economist’s country of the year for 2025
Which country improved the most this year?
Each Christmas The Economist names a country of the year. Not the happiest: that would nearly always be Scandinavian, making for a dull, predictable contest. Nor the most influential: that would always be a superpower. Rather, we try to identify the country that has improved the most, whether economically, politically or in any other way that matters.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The Economist’s country of the year”
From the December 20th 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
Your Well Informed guide to surviving Christmas
Drink slowly, eat cake and remember that fun is good for you, too
What Novo Nordisk, OpenAI and Pop Mart have in common
All three have suffered the curse of overnight success
Two months in, the Gaza ceasefire is floundering
The consequences will ripple beyond the Middle East
China proved its strengths in 2025—and Donald Trump helped
It was a good year for Xi Jinping
How the young can make sense of the news
With your help, the Economist Educational Foundation can teach children to think critically
The battle for Warner Bros is a prelude to the real streaming war
Professionally made shows face tough competition from independent makers