In the 2023 edition of the globalization index, Switzerland had the highest index score at 90.75. Belgium followed behind, with the Netherlands in third. Overall, globalization declined in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but increased somewhat in 2021, even though it was still below pre-pandemic levels.

About the index

The KOF Index of Globalization aims to measure the rate of globalization in countries around the world. Data used to construct the 2023 edition of the index was from 2021. The index is based on three dimensions, or core sets of indicators: economic, social, and political. Via these three dimensions, the overall index of globalization tries to assess current economic flows, economic restrictions, data on information flows, data on personal contact, and data on cultural proximity within surveyed countries.

Defining globalization

Globalization is defined for this index as the process of creating networks of connections among actors at multi-continental distances, mediated through a variety of flows including people, information and ideas, capital and goods. It is a process that erodes national boundaries, integrates national economies, cultures, technologies and governance and produces complex relations of mutual interdependence.

North Korea: Political globalization index (0-100): The latest value from 2017 is 33.14 points, an increase from 32.95 points in 2016. In comparison, the world average is 62.63 points, based on data from 201 countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from 1970 to 2017 is 25.37 points. The minimum value, 18.54 points, was reached in 1970 while the maximum of 33.48 points was recorded in 2015.

Somalia: Globalization index (0-100): The latest value from 2022 is 30.26 points, an increase from 30 points in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 61.23 points, based on data from 190 countries. Historically, the average for Somalia from 1986 to 2022 is 27.65 points. The minimum value, 24.6 points, was reached in 1986 while the maximum of 31.64 points was recorded in 2016.

Slovenia: Globalization index (0-100): The latest value from 2022 is 80.36 points, a decline from 81 points in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 61.23 points, based on data from 190 countries. Historically, the average for Slovenia from 1991 to 2022 is 71.65 points. The minimum value, 43.32 points, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 81.24 points was recorded in 2016.