Global Competetiveness Report

Country Rankings
Natural Capital
The natural capital of a country is mainly
determined by factors beyond the influence
of humanity: geography, climate, water
resources, mineral resources. However, the
efficient and sustainable use - and therefore
the level of depletion – is a result of human
activity and therefore can be directed
through positive and negative incentives.
The countries on the bottom of the natural
capital ranking - which includes the two
largest countries by population, China (133)
and India (156) - are highly likely to face
barriers to sustainable and sustained
development. Depending on the country, its
location, geography, climate and
population, these obstacles might include:
• limitations to agricultural output due to
lack of water, desertification, and pollution
• Increasing desertification of arable land
• Loss of biodiversity
• Water constraints, affecting agriculture,
human needs, and the economy
• Potential conflict over resources. The ongoing
violent conflict in Darfur, for
example, is in its essence a conflict over
limited natural resources (water,
agricultural land, grazing land) in an arid
region amidst the background of
increasing population pressure
Countries facing any of these constraints
need to develop a long-term strategy to
counter its specific treats. Potential counterstrategies
include negative incentives
(regulation, protection, contingents) as well
as positive incentives (investments, market
incentives, subsidies, educational support,
targeted R&D).
Natural Capital Sustainability
Country Rank Score
Egypt 45 48.3
Dominican Republic 46 48.0
Zimbabwe 47 47.8
Iceland 48 47.6
Sierra Leone 49 47.5
Cambodia 50 47.3
Tanzania 51 47.3
Bolivia 52 47.2
Guinea 53 46.6
Swaziland 54 46.5
Netherlands 55 46.5
Bosnia and Herzegovina 56 46.5
Costa Rica 57 46.0
Gambia 58 45.0
Japan 59 45.0
Ethiopia 60 44.9
Czech Republic 61 44.8
Ghana 62 44.8
Uganda 63 44.6
Hungary 64 44.4
Lesotho 65 44.3
Mali 66 44.2
Malaysia 67 44.1
Croatia 68 44.1
Ecuador 69 44.0
Germany 70 43.9
Burkina Faso 71 43.8
Italy 72 43.3
Nicaragua 73 42.7
Vietnam 74 42.5
Rwanda 75 42.5
Malawi 76 42.4
Uzbekistan 77 42.2
Portugal 78 42.1
Kazakhstan 79 41.6
Belgium 80 41.4
Austria 81 41.4
Chad 82 41.1
Greece 83 40.7
Bangladesh 84 40.6
Tajikistan 85 40.6
Moldova 86 40.6
Trinidad and Tobago 87 40.6
Fiji 88 40.4
The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index
35