Rank
1	Suriname	689 days
2	Guinea-Bissau	259.5 days
3	Haiti	202 days
4	Timor-Leste	158 days
5	Equatorial Guinea	155 days
6	Sao Tome and Principe	145 days
7	Venezuela	142 days
8	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	132.5 days
9	Brunei Darussalam	121.5 days
10	Botswana	105 days
11	Namibia	99 days
12	Zimbabwe	94 days
13	Bosnia and Herzegovina	93 days
14	Costa Rica	90 days
15	Cambodia	86 days
16	Laos	86 days
17	Angola	83 days
18	Eritrea	83 days
19	Iran	80.5 days
20	Peru	74.5 days
21	State of Palestine	73.5 days
22	Lesotho	73 days
23	Liberia	69 days
24	Tajikistan	66 days
25	Ecuador	65 days
26	Yemen	63.5 days
27	Chad	62 days
28	Slovenia	61.5 days
29	Eswatini	60 days
30	Spain	60 days
31	Togo	60 days
32	Senegal	58 days
33	Solomon Islands	55 days
34	Gabon	54 days
35	Lebanon	53 days
36	South Africa	53 days
37	Cabo Verde	52 days
38	Papua New Guinea	52 days
39	Mauritania	50 days
40	Belarus	49 days
41	Bolivia	49 days
42	Bhutan	48 days
43	Vanuatu	47 days
44	Kenya	45 days
45	Poland	45 days
46	Djibouti	44 days
47	Fiji	44 days
48	Syrian Arab Republic	43.5 days
49	Belize	43 days
50	Uruguay	43 days
51	Côte d'Ivoire	42 days
52	Sri Lanka	42 days
53	Colombia	41 days
54	Trinidad and Tobago	41 days
55	Oman	40.4 days
56	Chile	40 days
57	Guinea	40 days
58	Bulgaria	39 days
59	Nicaragua	39 days
60	Congo	38.5 days
61	Sudan	38.5 days
62	Cameroon	38 days
63	Greece	38 days
64	Albania	37 days
65	Guyana	37 days
66	Malawi	37 days
67	Slovakia	37 days
68	Vietnam	37 days
69	Azerbaijan	36 days
70	Guatemala	36 days
71	Kuwait	35.4 days
72	Philippines	35 days
73	Samoa	35 days
74	Thailand	35 days
75	Benin	34.5 days
76	Paraguay	34 days
77	Zambia	34 days
78	Seychelles	33 days
79	Czech Republic	32 days
80	Gambia	32 days
81	Mozambique	32 days
82	Tanzania	32 days
83	Tonga	32 days
84	Malaysia	31.5 days
85	Kiribati	31 days
86	Nepal	31 days
87	Bahamas	30.5 days
88	Iraq	30.5 days
89	Comoros	30 days
90	Uganda	30 days
91	Argentina	29.5 days
92	North Macedonia	28 days
93	Palau	28 days
94	Ukraine	28 days
95	Saudi Arabia	27.2 days
96	Kazakhstan	27 days
97	Lithuania	26 days
98	Montenegro	26 days
99	Sierra Leone	26 days
100	Austria	25 days
101	Dominican Republic	25 days
102	Mali	25 days
103	Luxembourg	24 days
104	Niger	24 days
105	Republic of Moldova	23 days
106	Serbia	23 days
107	Croatia	22.5 days
108	Algeria	22 days
109	Antigua and Barbuda	22 days
110	Central African Republic	22 days
111	Kyrgyzstan	21 days
112	Honduras	20 days
113	Saint Lucia	20 days
114	El Salvador	19.5 days
115	Ethiopia	19 days
116	Grenada	19 days
117	Ireland	19 days
118	Saint Kitts and Nevis	19 days
119	United Arab Emirates	18.3 days
120	Burkina Faso	18 days
121	Germany	18 days
122	Israel	18 days
123	Panama	18 days
124	Switzerland	18 days
125	Egypt	17.5 days
126	Armenia	17 days
127	Finland	17 days
128	Hungary	17 days
129	Marshall Islands	17 days
130	Mongolia	17 days
131	South Korea	17 days
132	Latvia	16 days
133	Micronesia (Fed. States of)	16 days
134	Rwanda	16 days
135	Sweden	16 days
136	Italy	15 days
137	Dominica	14 days
138	Uzbekistan	14 days
139	Jordan	13.5 days
140	Burundi	13 days
141	Ghana	13 days
142	Tunisia	13 days
143	Madagascar	12 days
144	Morocco	12 days
145	New Zealand	12 days
146	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	12 days
147	United Kingdom	11.5 days
148	Georgia	11 days
149	China, Hong Kong SAR	11 days
150	Afghanistan	10.5 days
151	Turkey	10.5 days
152	Bahrain	9.3 days
153	Maldives	9 days
154	Qatar	8.2 days
155	Jamaica	8 days
156	Netherlands	8 days
157	Norway	8 days
158	Portugal	8 days
159	Romania	8 days
160	Mauritius	7.5 days
161	France	7 days
162	Puerto Rico	7 days
163	Denmark	6.5 days
164	Estonia	6.5 days
165	Iceland	5 days
166	Singapore	5 days
167	Belgium	4.5 days
168	Canada	3.5 days
169	Australia	3 days

↑Top 10 Countries

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Insights by country

Serbia

In 2007, Serbia ranked #106 globally for the Time Required to Start a Business, taking 23 days to complete the process. This duration is notably longer than the regional average in Southeast Europe, where many countries have streamlined business registration processes. Factors contributing to this timeframe include bureaucratic inefficiencies and a complex regulatory environment, which can hinder entrepreneurial initiatives in the country.

Zimbabwe

In 2007, Zimbabwe ranked #12 globally for the Time Required to Start a Business with a value of 94 days. This duration is significantly longer than that of regional neighbors, reflecting challenges in the business environment. Key drivers include economic instability, bureaucratic hurdles, and a complex regulatory framework that complicates the entrepreneurial landscape in Zimbabwe.

Syrian Arab Republic

In 2007, the Syrian Arab Republic ranked #48 globally for the Time Required to Start a Business with a value of 43.5 days. This duration is relatively moderate compared to the global average, indicating a more favorable business environment than many countries in the region. Key factors contributing to this timeframe include a state-controlled economy and regulatory frameworks that, while cumbersome, have historically supported entrepreneurship through various initiatives.

Singapore

In 2007, Singapore ranked #166 globally for the Time Required to Start a Business, taking just 5 days. This duration is significantly longer than many of its regional neighbors, reflecting a more complex regulatory environment. The relatively lengthy process can be attributed to Singapore's stringent regulatory framework and the emphasis on maintaining high standards for business operations. Despite this, Singapore remains a hub for entrepreneurship due to its strategic location and business-friendly policies.

Burkina Faso

In 2007, Burkina Faso ranked #124 globally for the metric of Time Required to Start a Business, taking 18 days to complete the process. This duration is notably longer than the global average, indicating significant challenges for entrepreneurs in the country. Factors contributing to this lengthy timeline include bureaucratic hurdles, limited access to financing, and a lack of infrastructure, which hinder the business environment. Additionally, the country's economic structure, heavily reliant on agriculture, limits diversification and complicates the startup landscape.

Ukraine

In 2007, Ukraine ranked #93 globally for the Time Required to Start a Business, taking an average of 28 days to establish a new venture. This duration is notably longer compared to many European neighbors, reflecting challenges in regulatory processes. The country's complex legal environment and bureaucratic hurdles have historically hindered entrepreneurial activity, impacting business formation rates and economic growth.

Mali

In 2007, Mali ranked #102 globally for the Time Required to Start a Business, with a duration of 25 days. This figure is notably longer than the global average, indicating challenges in the business environment. Factors contributing to this delay include bureaucratic inefficiencies and a lack of infrastructure, which hinder entrepreneurs from easily navigating the startup process.

Mauritius

In 2007, Mauritius ranked #160 globally for the Time Required to Start a Business with a value of 7.5 days. This duration is significantly longer than the global average, highlighting challenges in the business initiation process. Factors contributing to this include regulatory complexities and the need for multiple approvals, which can hinder entrepreneurial activity in the country.

Egypt

In 2007, Egypt ranked #125 globally for the Time Required to Start a Business, taking an average of 17.5 days to complete the process. This duration is significantly longer than the global average, indicating challenges in the business environment. Key factors influencing this statistic include bureaucratic inefficiencies and regulatory hurdles that entrepreneurs face when establishing new ventures in the country.

Uzbekistan

In 2007, Uzbekistan had a global rank of #138 for the Time Required to Start a Business, taking an average of 14 days to complete the process. This duration is significantly longer than the global average, reflecting challenges in regulatory and bureaucratic procedures. Key drivers include a historically centralized economy and complex licensing requirements that hinder entrepreneurial activities, despite recent efforts to improve the business environment.

Analysis & Context

In 2007, the country with the highest Time Required to Start a Business was Suriname, taking a staggering 689 days, while the global range spanned from a minimum of 3 days to this maximum. The global average time to start a business was 43.29 days, providing a significant contrast to both extremes.

Regulatory Efficiency and Economic Development

The wide variation in the Time Required to Start a Business in 2007 highlights differences in regulatory environments and their impact on economic development. Countries like Australia and Canada required only 3 and 3.5 days respectively, reflecting streamlined processes and efficient regulatory frameworks. These nations benefit from robust digital infrastructures and transparent administrative procedures, which facilitate quicker business registrations.

Conversely, in Suriname and Guinea-Bissau, where starting a business required 689 and 259.5 days respectively, the protracted timelines can be attributed to complex bureaucratic processes and potential regulatory inefficiencies. These extended durations hinder entrepreneurial activities and potentially deter foreign investment, impacting overall economic growth.

Impact of Governance and Institutional Quality

The data suggests that institutional quality and governance play crucial roles in determining the Time Required to Start a Business. For instance, Singapore and Iceland, with requirements of just 5 days, are known for their effective governance and strong institutional frameworks. These countries prioritize ease of doing business as a strategy for economic competitiveness and innovation.

In contrast, countries such as Haiti and Timor-Leste, where starting a business takes 202 and 158 days respectively, may face challenges related to political instability and weaker institutional structures, which can delay business registration processes and reduce the appeal for new business ventures.

Year-over-Year Trends: Significant Changes

Analyzing the year-over-year changes in Time Required to Start a Business reveals noteworthy shifts. For example, Mozambique saw a dramatic decrease of 85 days (a reduction of 72.6%), reflecting substantial reforms aimed at improving business climate efficiency. Similarly, Dominican Republic reduced its time by 51 days, indicating efforts to streamline administrative processes.

On the other hand, some countries experienced increases, such as Eritrea and Gambia, which saw rises of 7 and 5 days respectively. These increases may highlight challenges in implementing reforms or temporary administrative backlogs.

Geopolitical and Regional Influences

Geopolitical factors and regional dynamics also play a role in the time required to start a business. In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, countries such as Equatorial Guinea and Democratic Republic of the Congo require 155 and 132.5 days, reflecting broader regional trends of complex regulatory environments. In contrast, European countries like Belgium and Denmark demonstrate faster processes, requiring only 4.5 and 6.5 days respectively, due to harmonized regulations and EU-driven reforms.

These regional disparities underscore the importance of policy harmonization and the adoption of best practices to foster a conducive environment for business growth. As such, countries with longer durations may benefit from examining the regulatory strategies of their more efficient counterparts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Required to Start a Business in 2007

Which country had the longest time required to start a business in 2007?

In 2007, Suriname had the longest time required to start a business, taking 689 days.

Which country had the shortest time required to start a business in 2007?

Australia had the shortest time required to start a business in 2007, with only 3 days.

What was the average time required to start a business in 2007 across all countries?

The average time required to start a business across all countries in 2007 was 43.29 days.

What was the median time required to start a business in 2007?

The median time required to start a business in 2007 was 31 days.

Which countries were in the top 3 for the longest time to start a business in 2007?

The top 3 countries with the longest time to start a business in 2007 were Suriname with 689 days, Guinea-Bissau with 260 days, and Haiti with 202 days.

How many countries were included in the dataset for the time required to start a business in 2007?

The dataset for the time required to start a business in 2007 included 169 countries.

Data Source

Time required to start a business | Doing Business project, World Bank via Our World in Data

Data produced by Doing Business project, World Bank, compiled and published by Our World in Data as "Time required to start a business".

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Cite this page

Geo Factbook. (n.d.). Time Required to Start a Business by Country, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from https://geofactbook.com/fact/time-required-to-start-a-business/2007

The figures on this page come from Time required to start a business | Doing Business project, World Bank via Our World in Data. For academic work, cite the original source as well.

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