The most prepared countries for AI

FERNANDA MACHADO
Apr 9
1 min read

Updated: May 9

Which countries are best prepared for the age of artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence is expected to profoundly transform the global economy — impacting everything from the labor market to digital infrastructure and supply chains. According to the IMF, 40% of jobs worldwide are exposed to AI, with varying impacts across countries.

The IMF’s AI Preparedness Index assessed 174 countries based on four pillars: digital infrastructure, human capital, technological innovation, and legal frameworks.

World map highlighting the top countries in AI readiness, based on the IMF's AI Preparedness Index. The top 10 countries are marked with numbered circles, led by Singapore, followed by Denmark, the United States, the Netherlands, and others. The map uses a blue-to-green color scale to indicate levels of preparedness.

Singapore ranks at the top of the global list, thanks to strong national AI strategies, secure public tools, and rapid workforce upskilling — currently the fastest in the world in AI skill adoption, according to LinkedIn.

Europe stands out as a bloc, with half of the top 10 countries. Nations like Denmark, the Netherlands, and Estonia are cited by McKinsey as “digital front-runners,” driven by advanced infrastructure, strong public policies, and accelerated enterprise adoption of AI.