TIME’s list of the World’s Best Companies 2023, made with data firm Statista, ranked Microsoft first, followed by Apple, Alphabet and Meta. Infosys, at number 64, was the only Indian company in the top 100. The ranking scored companies on employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability (ESG) data. Later editions have added more Indian firms.
The 2023 edition was the first time TIME published this ranking. It assessed 750 companies worldwide, and the top 100 drew the most attention. Below is the full top 20 from 2023, how Indian companies performed and what changed in the 2024 and 2025 editions.
- TIME World's Best Companies 2023: top 20
- How TIME ranked the best companies
- Indian companies in the 2023 list
- Quick facts: Indian companies across editions
- What changed in 2024
- What changed in 2025
- Which sectors led the 2023 top 20
- Not to be confused with other TIME lists
- Why the list matters
- Frequently asked questions
TIME World’s Best Companies 2023: top 20
- Microsoft
- Apple
- Alphabet
- Meta Platforms
- Accenture
- Pfizer
- American Express
- Electricité de France (EDF)
- BMW Group
- Dell Technologies
- LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton
- Delta Air Lines
- Enel
- Starbucks
- Volkswagen Group
- General Motors
- Elevance Health
- Bosch
- Ford
- Johnson & Johnson
US technology companies took the top four places. Accenture, at fifth, was the highest ranked professional services firm, and it also had the best ESG score on the list, according to reports at the time.
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How TIME ranked the best companies
TIME and Statista built the list on three pillars:
- Employee satisfaction: based on large surveys of employees about their workplaces.
- Revenue growth: companies needed meaningful revenue and steady growth over the previous years.
- Sustainability: measured with ESG data such as emissions and governance disclosures.
Because all three count, a very large company with weak employee scores can rank below a smaller firm that does well on every measure.
Indian companies in the 2023 list
Infosys was ranked 64th, making it the only India-headquartered company in the top 100. The company shared the news on X on 14 September 2023. Wipro was placed 174th among the 750 companies.
Infosys was also among the top three professional services firms on the list, with Accenture (5th) and Deloitte (36th). For India’s IT sector, this was seen as recognition of its global standing and workplace practices.
Quick facts: Indian companies across editions
| Edition | Top ranked company | Highest ranked Indian company | Other Indian names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Microsoft | Infosys (64) | Wipro (174) |
| 2024 | Apple | HCLTech (112) | Infosys (119), Wipro (134) |
| 2025 | See TIME’s list | HCLTech (highest ranked Indian tech company) | Details on TIME’s site |
What changed in 2024
In the 2024 edition, released in September 2024, Apple moved to the top spot, followed by Accenture and Microsoft, with BMW Group and Amazon also near the top, according to reports summarising the list. India’s presence grew: 22 Indian companies featured, according to Global Indian.
HCLTech was the highest ranked Indian company at 112th, followed by Infosys at 119th and Wipro at 134th. No Indian company made the top 100 that year. Other Indian names on the wider list included Mahindra Group, Axis Bank, SBI, ICICI Bank, Larsen and Toubro, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ITC, Reliance Industries and the Adani Group.
What changed in 2025
HCLTech said in a press release dated 6 October 2025 that it was the highest ranked India-headquartered technology company in TIME’s World’s Best Companies 2025, for the second year in a row. It was also named in TIME’s World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2025 list.
TIME publishes the ranking each year, usually in September or October. For the latest positions, check TIME’s official list rather than social media summaries, which often mix up years. For more on companies and the economy, visit our finance section and technology section.
Which sectors led the 2023 top 20
Looking at the top 20 by industry shows how broad the 2023 ranking was:
- Technology: Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Meta Platforms and Dell Technologies, five of the top ten.
- Automobiles and parts: BMW Group, Volkswagen Group, General Motors, Ford and Bosch.
- Energy and utilities: Electricité de France and Enel, both European power companies.
- Healthcare: Pfizer, Elevance Health and Johnson & Johnson.
- Consumer and services: LVMH, Starbucks, Delta Air Lines, American Express and Accenture.
Sustainability carries real weight in the scoring, which tends to help companies that publish detailed ESG reports, as many large European firms do.
Not to be confused with other TIME lists
TIME publishes several company rankings, and they are often mixed up online. The TIME100 Most Influential Companies list is chosen by editors and has no numerical ranking. The World’s Best Companies list, covered here, is a data-based ranking made with Statista. TIME has also published a separate World’s Most Sustainable Companies ranking, in which HCLTech featured in 2025.
Why the list matters
Rankings like this influence how job seekers and investors view a company. A good position can help recruitment, especially for IT services firms that hire in large numbers. At the same time, the list depends on surveys and disclosed data, so it should be read alongside financial results and other workplace rankings.
Further reading: https://t.co/Mvg9lRFxDV.
Frequently asked questions
Which company was ranked number one in TIME’s World’s Best Companies 2023?
Microsoft topped the 2023 list, followed by Apple, Alphabet and Meta Platforms.
Which Indian company was in TIME’s top 100 best companies 2023?
Infosys, ranked 64th, was the only Indian company in the top 100. Wipro was ranked 174th.
How many Indian companies were in TIME’s World’s Best Companies 2024?
Twenty-two Indian companies featured in 2024. HCLTech ranked highest at 112th.
How does TIME choose the World’s Best Companies?
TIME and Statista score companies on employee satisfaction surveys, revenue growth and sustainability data.
Sources: The News Minute, 2023, Global Indian, 2024, HCLTech press release, October 2025.
