Minimum capital for starting a business in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Minimum capital for starting a business was 116.0% in 2012. ◆ Volatile
Minimum capital for starting a business in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2003–2012
Source: World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/). Measured in % of income per capita.
Analysis
The most recent figure for minimum capital for starting a business in Sub-Saharan Africa is 116.0%, measured in 2012. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of down 10.6% on the previous year and down 91.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, minimum capital for starting a business in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 1,411.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 116.0%, in 2012.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Minimum capital for starting a business in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of income per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1,411.5% | — |
| 2004 | 244.3% | -82.7% |
| 2005 | 280.5% | +14.8% |
| 2006 | 206.9% | -26.3% |
| 2007 | 186.2% | -10.0% |
| 2008 | 173.3% | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 141.4% | -18.4% |
| 2010 | 145.6% | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 129.8% | -10.9% |
| 2012 | 116.0% | -10.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 377.7% | 141.4% | 1,411.5% | 7 |
| 2010s | 130.5% | 116.0% | 145.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Niger 572.8% compare
- 2 Central African Republic 444.1% compare
- 3 Djibouti 383.6% compare
- 4 Togo 365.6% compare
- 5 Burkina Faso 353.9% compare
- 6 Guinea-Bissau 338.0% compare
- 7 Mali 331.9% compare
More private sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Merchandise trade 44.5% (2025)
- Food imports 12.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.8% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 501.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.7% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 19.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 486.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 368.33 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2201 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 11.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is minimum capital for starting a business in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Minimum capital for starting a business in Sub-Saharan Africa was 116.0% in 2012, according to World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).
- What is the highest minimum capital for starting a business recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,411.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest minimum capital for starting a business recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 116.0% in 2012.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for minimum capital for starting a business?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th out of 6 groups with data for 2012.
- Is minimum capital for starting a business rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/), published as part of Minimum capital for starting a business (% of income per capita). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The paid-in minimum capital requirement reflects the amount that the entrepreneur needs to deposit in a bank or with a notary before registration and up to 3 months following incorporation and is recorded as a percentage of the country’s income per capita. The amount is typically specified in the commercial code or the company law. Many countries have a minimum capital requirement but allow businesses to pay only a part of it before registration, with the rest to be paid after the first year of operation. For more information, visit http://www.doingbusiness.org/MethodologySurveys/.