In the 2024 global Digital Competitiveness Ranking by IMD, Lithuania climbed six places to secure 22nd position out of 67 evaluated countries. It has strengthened its position as a leader among the Baltic States, surpassing both Estonia and Latvia. Lithuania stands out particularly in the Readiness for the Future category, where it ranks 17th.
“Lithuania’s digital transformation is advancing rapidly, with the country’s scores improving significantly across all categories over the past year. The global community recognises Lithuania’s preparedness for future challenges, business resilience, and adaptability,” says Kotryna Tamoševičienė, Head of the Research and Analysis Department at the Innovation Agency.
In this year’s ranking, Lithuania overtook Estonia, which fell from 18th to 24th place. Latvia also improved, moving up from 40th to 38th place. The 2024 index is led by Singapore, Switzerland, and Denmark, while the United States, last year’s top-ranking country, dropped to fourth place.
Strong Performance in Talent
According to Tamoševičienė, the comparison between Baltic States shows that Estonia’s decline occurred in areas where Lithuania made its greatest progress—particularly in the “Readiness for the Future” category. Business leaders surveyed by IMD researchers highlighted that Lithuania outperforms Estonia in business agility and tolerance for business risks.
“That said, Estonia remains a leader in government cybersecurity capabilities and digital public services, though Lithuania is also making notable strides in these areas,” observes Tamoševičienė. Lithuania ranks 10th in cybersecurity capabilities within the public sector and 21st in the quality of digital public services.
“We can take pride in Lithuania’s 23rd position in the Knowledge category. Among its subcategories, our talent ranks highest at 21st, closely followed by training and education in 24th place,” says Tamoševičienė. In the Technology category, Lithuania ranks 28th.
Robotics in Education Lags Behind
One of the factors limiting Lithuania’s digital competitiveness is the insufficient use of robotics in education, according to the ranking’s findings.
“While Lithuania boasts strong talent, challenges may arise in attracting highly skilled specialists in the future. We should focus on increasing the number of international students and workers pursuing high-specialisation fields,” says K. Tamoševičienė.
She believes these challenges could be addressed through a clear and focused national strategy, combined with targeted investments in Smart Specialisation priorities. These include health sciences and biotechnology, manufacturing, and information and communication technology. According to Tamoševičienė, strategic investment in these areas could create significant added value and become a cornerstone of Lithuania’s economic success.
The global IMD Digital Competitiveness Ranking has been published annually since 2017 by the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD). IMD focuses on innovation and competitiveness research, helping countries and businesses assess their ability to adapt to evolving technological conditions. Each year, it evaluates and highlights countries’ progress in digital innovation, promoting best practices and innovative solutions worldwide.
