Research
The Cognitive Coefficient InstituteFindings drawn from the Index, recomputed every time the Index refreshes.
What the Index shows today
These findings are written by the Index itself: every figure below is read from the current Index when you open this page, last refreshed 21 Oct 2026. When the Index moves, the findings move with them.
From the Index · Geographies · CountriesTwo countries hold absolute power: the United States and China
The United States scores 93.6 on Cognitive Power and China 91.9. Japan, in third, scores 65.4, 26.5 points behind second place.
Per person, the United States is also first on the Cognitive Coefficient, while China is 6th.
| # | Name | CPI · absolute | CC · per person |
|---|
| 01 | United States | 93.6 | 86.7 |
| 02 | China | 91.9 | 69.9 |
| 03 | Japan | 65.4 | 64.4 |
| 04 | Germany | 63.8 | 70.0 |
| 05 | South Korea | 62.5 | 74.3 |
From the Index · Geographies · CountriesScale is not depth
Among the 10 strongest economies, India shows the widest gap between the two lenses: 8th on absolute power, outside the top 10 per person.
South Korea runs the other way: 5th on absolute power but 2nd per person. Which lens matters depends on the question you are asking.
| # | Name | CPI · absolute | CC · per person |
|---|
| 05 | South Korea | 62.5 | 74.3 |
| 08 | India | 55.2 | 41.0 |
From the Index · Geographies · Major global citiesWhere the metros lead
New York leads the metros on absolute power at 87.1.
Per person the leader is the San Francisco Bay Area, at 98.6, which ranks 2nd on absolute power.
| # | Name | MPI · absolute | MCC · per person |
|---|
| 01 | New York | 87.1 | 75.9 |
| 02 | San Francisco Bay Area | 85.4 | 98.6 |
| 03 | Beijing | 83.8 | 72.7 |
| 04 | Shanghai | 80.8 | 66.2 |
| 05 | Tokyo | 80.3 | 58.9 |
From the Index · Geographies · US statesThe states: scale and depth
California sets the scale among US states at 97.6.
It leads per person too. Second per person is Massachusetts (88.5), which ranks 4th on absolute power.
| # | Name | SPI · absolute | SCC · per person |
|---|
| 01 | California | 97.6 | 92.2 |
| 02 | New York | 82.1 | 78.4 |
| 03 | Texas | 78.9 | 63.9 |
| 04 | Massachusetts | 76.5 | 88.5 |
| 05 | Florida | 74.9 | 57.3 |
Research programmes
The Index editionsEvery ranking is refreshed nightly from sourced indicators and snapshotted, so movement can be read over time. History before the live dailies is a modelled backcast and is marked as such.
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