India has been ranked 176th out of 177 countries in the Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2026, making it the second-lowest ranked country globally. India received an overall score of 22.46 out of 100.
Only Laos ranked lower at 177th with a score of 21.78, while Estonia retained the top position with a score of 74.79.
Among South Asian nations, India ranked last, behind Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Maldives, and Bangladesh.
What is the Environment Performance Index (EPI)?
The Environment Performance Index (EPI) is a global ranking that evaluates countries based on their environmental health, ecosystem sustainability, and climate change mitigation efforts.
- Released by: Yale University and Columbia University
- Published: Every two years (Biennially)
- Countries Assessed: 177
- Environmental Indicators: 47
- Issue Categories: 12
Policy Objectives and Weightage
| Policy Objective | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Environmental Health | 25% |
| Ecosystem Vitality | 45% |
| Climate Change Mitigation | 30% |
New in EPI 2026: Grassland Conversion has been introduced as a new environmental indicator.
India's Performance in EPI 2026
| Category | Rank |
|---|---|
| Overall Rank | 176/177 |
| Overall Score | 22.46 |
| Environmental Health | 174th |
| Ecosystem Vitality | 171st |
| Climate Change Mitigation | 130th |
Reasons for India's Low Ranking
- Poor air quality across many cities.
- Heavy dependence on coal for electricity generation.
- Weak ecosystem and biodiversity protection.
- Increasing greenhouse gas emissions due to rising energy demand.
India's Previous EPI Rankings
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 176/177 |
| 2024 | 176/180 |
| 2022 | 180/180 (Last) |
Despite the low ranking, India's 10-year change score is +7.47, indicating gradual improvement in environmental performance over the past decade.
Top Performing Country
| Rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Estonia | 74.79 |
| 176 | India | 22.46 |
| 177 | Laos | 21.78 |
Important Facts for Competitive Exams
- Index: Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2026
- India's Rank: 176th out of 177 countries
- India's Score: 22.46
- Top Country: Estonia (74.79)
- Lowest Country: Laos (21.78)
- Released By: Yale University and Columbia University
- Frequency: Every two years
- Countries Covered: 177
- Indicators: 47
- Issue Categories: 12
- New Indicator: Grassland Conversion
- India's 10-Year Change Score: +7.47
Conclusion
The Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2026 highlights the need for India to strengthen environmental policies, improve air quality, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, conserve biodiversity, and accelerate climate action. While India's overall ranking remains among the lowest globally, the positive 10-year improvement score suggests that environmental performance is gradually improving.