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 Global ESG Ranking Year 2026 

 

This list has been adjusted based on the critique of ISESG that Governance (G) and Social (S) factors often weigh as heavily as Environmental (E) factors in composite scores. It also accounts for the "Green Divide"—where wealthy nations accelerate decarbonization while developing nations face adaptation hurdles.

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Tier 1: The Global Leaders (Score > 85)

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Denmark (Global Leader in Wind/Renewables)
Sweden (Leader in Green Steel & Circular Economy)
Finland (Top in Education & Social Equity)
Norway (High EV adoption, though sovereign wealth is oil-based)
Switzerland (Governance & Water Management)
Netherlands
New Zealand
Germany
Iceland
Austria
Ireland
Luxembourg
United Kingdom (Rebound in Governance scores post-2025)
Canada
Australia (Rapid acceleration in solar/storage since 2024)

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Characteristics: These nations have effectively decoupled economic growth from carbon emissions. They possess low corruption, high social mobility, and are the primary drivers of global green technology.

2026 Insight: The gap between Tier 1 and the rest of the world has widened due to the implementation of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which rewards these nations' early investments in low-carbon industry.

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Tier 2: Strong Performers (Score 75–84)

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France (Strong Nuclear backbone, but social unrest impacts 'S' score)
Japan (High Governance, but slow decarbonization of grid)
Belgium
Portugal
South Korea (Tech leader, but heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports)
Spain
Singapore (Elite Governance, but resource constraints limit 'E' score)
Estonia (Digital Governance leader)
United States (World-leading innovation, dragged down by inequality and political polarization)
Costa Rica (Global outlier: Tier 1 Environmental score, Tier 2/3 Economic score)
Uruguay
Chile (Leader in the Lithium/Green Hydrogen economy)
Czech Republic
Slovenia
Italy

 

Characteristics: Advanced economies with strong institutions but specific lags—either in energy transition speed, social inequality, or political polarization.

2026 Insight: The United States remains in Tier 2. While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) boosted its Environmental score, persistent issues in social cohesion and wealth inequality prevent it from entering the

Top 10.

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Tier 3: The "Transitioning" Middle (Score 65–74)

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Lithuania
Latvia
Israel (Innovation high; geopolitical instability impacts Social score)
Poland (Moving away from coal, but slowly)
Greece
United Arab Emirates (Massive green investment, but lagging in labor rights/governance)
Malaysia
Hungary
Croatia
Mauritius (Top performer in Africa)
Panama
Brazil (Rebounded due to deforestation curbs in the Amazon)
Slovakia
Romania
Vietnam (Major gainer: Manufacturing shifts here demand higher ESG compliance)

 

Characteristics: The engine room of the global economy. These nations are manufacturing hubs improving rapidly due to supply chain pressure from Western buyers.

2026 Insight: Vietnam and Brazil are the standout movers. As global companies audit their "Scope 3" emissions, these export-heavy nations have been forced to clean up their grids and labor practices to maintain contracts.

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Tier 4: Average / Mixed Performance (Score 55–64)

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China (World leader in renewables, but weighed down by coal usage and transparency issues)
Saudi Arabia (Vision 2030 reforms improved 'S', but 'E' remains low)
Thailand
Mexico
Indonesia
South Africa (Governance struggles hamper Just Energy Transition)
Colombia
Peru
Philippines
Turkey
India (Similar to China: Massive green growth offset by massive population/development needs)
Argentina
Bulgaria
Botswana
Morocco (Solar superpower, but water scarcity lowers score)

 

 

Characteristics: Countries with massive potential but deep structural contradictions. Often strong in one letter (E, S, or G) but failing in the others.

2026 Insight: China and India define this tier. They are statistically "Average" only because their massive environmental footprints cancel out their massive investments in green tech.

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Tier 5: Developing Frameworks (Score 45–54)

 

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Egypt
Jordan
Tunisia
Kenya (Leader in African geothermal, but governance lags)
Ghana
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Paraguay
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh (Highly vulnerable to climate change, impacting 'S' scores)
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Guatemala
Namibia
Rwanda (Outperformer in Governance, but limited economic scale)

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Characteristics: Nations actively attempting to build ESG frameworks but hindered by debt, lack of infrastructure, or legacy corruption.

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Tier 6: High Risk / Fragile Markets (Score 35–44)

 

 

Russia (Sanctions and isolation have degraded ESG data transparency and governance)
Pakistan
Nigeria
Ukraine (Reconstruction phase; scores are volatile)
Cambodia
Algeria
Iran
Ethiopia
Tanzania
Bolivia
Lebanon
Honduras
Papua New Guinea
Iraq
Venezuela

 

Characteristics: Nations actively attempting to build ESG frameworks but hindered by debt, lack of infrastructure, or legacy corruption.

2026 Insight: Russia has slid significantly. While it has natural resources, the lack of integration with global ESG reporting standards and governance isolation traps it in this tier.

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Tier 7: Critical Deficiencies (Score < 35)

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Group A: Governance & Humanitarian Crisis

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North Korea
Syria
Afghanistan
Yemen
Somalia
South Sudan
Myanmar
Eritrea
Central African Republic
Haiti

Group B: Extreme Climate Vulnerability (SIDS)

 

11. Kiribati
12. Tuvalu
13. Marshall Islands
14. Solomon Islands
15. Vanuatu

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These nations often have decent governance but rank low due to infrastructure fragility and existential climate risks.

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Characteristics: This tier is split into two distinct groups: Conflict Zones (Governance failure) and Climate Vulnerable (Existential environmental threat).

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Unranked / Insufficient Data

Micro-states or closed economies where standardized ESG data is unavailable.
Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Nauru, Palau, Micronesia, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

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*Global ESG Ranking Year 2026

Based on projected composite scores aggregating Environmental Performance (EPI), Social Progress (SPI), and Governance Indicators (WGI) studied by ISESG.org   

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