The GHS Index is intended to be a key resource in the face of increasing risks of high-consequence and globally catastrophic biological events and in light of major gaps in international financing for preparedness. These risks are magnified by a rapidly changing and interconnected world; increasing political instability; urbanization; climate change; and rapid technology advances that make it easier, cheaper, and faster to create and engineer pathogens. Key findings from the study of 195 countries: • Out of a possible 100 points, the average GHS Index score across 195 countries was 40.2. • The majority of high- and middle-income countries do not score above 50. • Action is urgently needed to improve countries’ readiness for high-consequence infectious disease outbreaks.