Dealing with construction permits: Quality of building regulations index (0-2) (DB16-20 methodology) by country
The quality of building regulations index evaluates the accessibility and transparency of building regulations. It has two components: (i) whether building regulations are easily accessible; and (ii) whether the requirements for obtaining a building permit are clearly specified. The index is computed based on the...
Countries reporting
174
Highest
2 DB16-20 methodology
Albania
Lowest
0 DB16-20 methodology
Tonga
Median
2 DB16-20 methodology
Years covered
6
2014–2019
Data points
1,109
What the numbers show
Dealing with construction permits: Quality of building regulations index (0-2) (DB16-20 methodology) is currently reported for 174 countries. The highest value is 2 DB16-20 methodology in Albania; the lowest is 0 DB16-20 methodology in Tonga.
The median across all reporting countries is 2 DB16-20 methodology, and the mean is 1.78 DB16-20 methodology.
Over the past decade 32 countries rose and 2 fell. The largest increase was in Nigeria (up 419.5%), and the largest decrease in Tonga (down 100.0%).
Dealing with construction permits: Quality of building regulations: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albania | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | United Arab Emirates | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Argentina | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Armenia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Antigua and Barbuda | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Australia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Austria | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Azerbaijan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Belgium | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Benin | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 1 | Bangladesh | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Bulgaria | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Bahrain | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Bahamas | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Belarus | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Belize | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Brazil | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Barbados | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Brunei Darussalam | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Bhutan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Canada | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Switzerland | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Chile | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | China | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Côte d'Ivoire | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Cameroon | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 1 | Colombia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Costa Rica | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Czechia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Djibouti | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Dominica | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Denmark | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Dominican Republic | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Algeria | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Egypt | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Spain | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Estonia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Ethiopia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Finland | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | France | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Gabon | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 1 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Georgia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Ghana | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Guinea | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 1 | Guatemala | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Hong Kong, China | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Croatia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Hungary | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | India | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Ireland | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Iceland | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Israel | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Italy | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Jamaica | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Jordan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Japan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Kazakhstan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Kenya | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Kyrgyzstan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Cambodia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Republic of Korea | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Kuwait | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Lebanon | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Saint Lucia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Sri Lanka | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 1 | Lithuania | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Luxembourg | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Latvia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Morocco | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Madagascar | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Maldives | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Mexico | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | North Macedonia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Malta | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Myanmar | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Mongolia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Mauritania | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 1 | Mauritius | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Malaysia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Namibia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Niger | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 1 | Nigeria | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 419.5% | volatile |
| 1 | Nicaragua | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Netherlands | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Norway | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Nepal | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | New Zealand | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Oman | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Pakistan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Panama | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Peru | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Philippines | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Palau | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Papua New Guinea | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Puerto Rico | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Portugal | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Palestine, State of | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Qatar | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Romania | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Russian Federation | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Rwanda | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Sudan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Senegal | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Singapore | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Solomon Islands | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 1 | El Salvador | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | San Marino | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Serbia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Slovakia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Slovenia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Sweden | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Eswatini | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Seychelles | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Togo | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 1 | Thailand | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Tajikistan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Trinidad and Tobago | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Tunisia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Türkiye | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Uganda | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Ukraine | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Uruguay | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | United States of America | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Uzbekistan | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Viet Nam | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Kosovo | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | South Africa | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Zambia | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Taiwan, China | 2 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 136 | Indonesia | 1.78 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 78.0% | rising |
| 137 | Botswana | 1.5 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Guinea-Bissau | 1.5 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Kiribati | 1.5 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Chad | 1.5 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 1.5 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Zimbabwe | 1.5 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Afghanistan | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 143 | Angola | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Burundi | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 143 | Burkina Faso | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Cape Verde | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 143 | Cyprus | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Germany | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Ecuador | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Greece | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Grenada | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Guyana | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Honduras | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Haiti | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Iraq | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Lesotho | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 143 | Republic of Moldova | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Marshall Islands | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Mali | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Montenegro | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Mozambique | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Poland | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 143 | Paraguay | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Sierra Leone | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Suriname | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Vanuatu | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Samoa | 1 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Congo | 0.5 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Gambia | 0.5 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0.5 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Tonga | 0 DB16-20 methodology | 2019 | down 100.0% | falling |
About this data
The quality of building regulations index evaluates the accessibility and transparency of building regulations. It has two components: (i) whether building regulations are easily accessible; and (ii) whether the requirements for obtaining a building permit are clearly specified. The index is computed based on the methodology in the DB16-20 studies.