Starting a business: Time - Women (days) by country
The time for women captures the median duration that business incorporation experts indicate is necessary for five female married entrepreneurs to complete all procedures required to start and operate a business with minimum follow-up and no extra payments. It is calulared in calendar days. The time estimates of...
What the numbers show
Starting a business: Time - Women (days) is currently reported for 189 countries. The highest value is 230 days in Venezuela; the lowest is 0.5 days in New Zealand.
The median across all reporting countries is 12 days, and the mean is 19.6 days.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 460.
Over the past decade 17 countries rose and 156 fell. The largest increase was in Yemen (up 215.4%), and the largest decrease in Togo (down 97.0%).
Starting a business: Time - Women: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venezuela | 230 days | 2019 | up 63.1% | rising |
| 1 | Djibouti | 14 days | 2019 | down 62.2% | falling |
| 2 | Laos | 173 days | 2019 | up 101.2% | rising |
| 3 | Cambodia | 99 days | 2019 | down 2.9% | rising |
| 4 | Haiti | 97 days | 2019 | down 56.7% | falling |
| 5 | Eritrea | 84 days | 2019 | unchanged | rising |
| 6 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 80 days | 2019 | down 19.2% | flat |
| 7 | Iran | 73 days | 2019 | up 15.9% | falling |
| 8 | Somalia | 70 days | 2019 | — | flat |
| 9 | Suriname | 66 days | 2019 | down 90.4% | volatile |
| 10 | Chad | 58 days | 2019 | down 6.5% | falling |
| 11 | Namibia | 54 days | 2019 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 12 | Congo | 50 days | 2019 | down 68.6% | volatile |
| 13 | Ecuador | 48.5 days | 2019 | down 24.2% | falling |
| 14 | Belize | 48 days | 2019 | up 11.6% | flat |
| 14 | Botswana | 48 days | 2019 | down 18.6% | falling |
| 16 | Palestine | 44 days | 2019 | down 31.2% | falling |
| 17 | Honduras | 42 days | 2019 | up 200.0% | falling |
| 18 | Papua New Guinea | 41 days | 2019 | down 21.2% | falling |
| 18 | Yemen | 41 days | 2019 | up 215.4% | falling |
| 20 | Fiji | 40 days | 2019 | down 9.1% | rising |
| 20 | South Africa | 40 days | 2019 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 22 | Bolivia | 39.5 days | 2019 | down 19.4% | falling |
| 23 | Malawi | 37 days | 2019 | up 2.8% | flat |
| 23 | Poland | 37 days | 2019 | down 5.1% | falling |
| 25 | Angola | 36 days | 2019 | down 47.1% | falling |
| 26 | Libya | 35 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Paraguay | 35 days | 2019 | unchanged | falling |
| 26 | Sudan | 35 days | 2019 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 29 | Equatorial Guinea | 33 days | 2019 | down 78.7% | falling |
| 29 | Philippines | 33 days | 2019 | down 2.9% | falling |
| 31 | Ethiopia | 32 days | 2019 | up 60.0% | rising |
| 31 | Seychelles | 32 days | 2019 | down 3.0% | flat |
| 33 | Kiribati | 31 days | 2019 | unchanged | rising |
| 34 | Tanzania | 29.5 days | 2019 | down 4.8% | falling |
| 35 | Palau | 28 days | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 36 | Iraq | 27 days | 2019 | down 12.9% | falling |
| 36 | Zimbabwe | 27 days | 2019 | down 71.3% | falling |
| 38 | Peru | 26 days | 2019 | down 36.6% | falling |
| 39 | Czechia | 24.5 days | 2019 | down 23.4% | falling |
| 40 | Uganda | 24 days | 2019 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 41 | Bulgaria | 23 days | 2019 | down 8.0% | falling |
| 41 | Costa Rica | 23 days | 2019 | down 68.7% | volatile |
| 41 | Kenya | 23 days | 2019 | down 30.3% | falling |
| 44 | Nepal | 22.5 days | 2019 | down 27.4% | falling |
| 45 | Central African Republic | 22 days | 2019 | down 8.3% | flat |
| 46 | Slovakia | 21.5 days | 2019 | down 24.6% | volatile |
| 46 | Eswatini | 21.5 days | 2019 | down 64.2% | falling |
| 48 | Austria | 21 days | 2019 | down 16.0% | falling |
| 49 | Malta | 20.5 days | 2019 | down 46.8% | falling |
| 50 | Kuwait | 20 days | 2019 | down 44.4% | flat |
| 50 | Romania | 20 days | 2019 | up 150.0% | volatile |
| 52 | Bangladesh | 19.5 days | 2019 | down 61.4% | volatile |
| 52 | Croatia | 19.5 days | 2019 | down 13.3% | falling |
| 54 | Antigua and Barbuda | 19 days | 2019 | down 13.6% | falling |
| 55 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 18.5 days | 2019 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 56 | Algeria | 18 days | 2019 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 56 | Guyana | 18 days | 2019 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 56 | Liberia | 18 days | 2019 | down 14.3% | volatile |
| 56 | Malaysia | 18 days | 2019 | down 5.3% | volatile |
| 56 | Vanuatu | 18 days | 2019 | down 61.7% | falling |
| 61 | India | 17.47 days | 2019 | down 48.6% | volatile |
| 62 | Marshall Islands | 17 days | 2019 | unchanged | falling |
| 62 | Mozambique | 17 days | 2019 | down 50.0% | volatile |
| 64 | Brazil | 16.62 days | 2019 | down 86.4% | falling |
| 65 | Dominican Republic | 16.5 days | 2019 | up 3.1% | volatile |
| 65 | Luxembourg | 16.5 days | 2019 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 65 | Pakistan | 16.5 days | 2019 | down 21.4% | falling |
| 65 | El Salvador | 16.5 days | 2019 | unchanged | volatile |
| 69 | Barbados | 16 days | 2019 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 69 | Comoros | 16 days | 2019 | down 27.3% | falling |
| 69 | Micronesia (country) | 16 days | 2019 | unchanged | falling |
| 69 | Syria | 16 days | 2019 | unchanged | volatile |
| 69 | Tonga | 16 days | 2019 | down 36.0% | falling |
| 69 | Vietnam | 16 days | 2019 | down 56.8% | falling |
| 75 | Guinea | 15 days | 2019 | down 62.5% | falling |
| 75 | Guatemala | 15 days | 2019 | down 58.3% | falling |
| 75 | Lebanon | 15 days | 2019 | unchanged | volatile |
| 75 | Lesotho | 15 days | 2019 | down 61.5% | volatile |
| 75 | North Macedonia | 15 days | 2019 | down 11.8% | volatile |
| 80 | Cameroon | 14 days | 2019 | down 61.1% | falling |
| 80 | Nicaragua | 14 days | 2019 | down 64.1% | falling |
| 82 | Burkina Faso | 13 days | 2019 | down 7.1% | volatile |
| 82 | Egypt | 13 days | 2019 | unchanged | volatile |
| 82 | Finland | 13 days | 2019 | down 23.5% | falling |
| 82 | Ghana | 13 days | 2019 | up 18.2% | falling |
| 82 | Jordan | 13 days | 2019 | unchanged | volatile |
| 82 | South Sudan | 13 days | 2019 | down 7.1% | falling |
| 82 | East Timor | 13 days | 2019 | down 91.7% | volatile |
| 89 | Indonesia | 12.64 days | 2019 | down 79.9% | volatile |
| 90 | Spain | 12.5 days | 2019 | down 79.5% | volatile |
| 91 | Bhutan | 12 days | 2019 | down 73.9% | volatile |
| 91 | Dominica | 12 days | 2019 | down 7.7% | falling |
| 91 | Grenada | 12 days | 2019 | down 36.8% | falling |
| 91 | Maldives | 12 days | 2019 | unchanged | rising |
| 91 | Montenegro | 12 days | 2019 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 91 | Mongolia | 12 days | 2019 | down 29.4% | falling |
| 97 | Argentina | 11.5 days | 2019 | down 54.0% | falling |
| 97 | Bahamas | 11.5 days | 2019 | down 62.3% | falling |
| 97 | Iceland | 11.5 days | 2019 | up 130.0% | rising |
| 97 | San Marino | 11.5 days | 2019 | down 72.0% | volatile |
| 101 | Japan | 11.15 days | 2019 | down 51.5% | falling |
| 102 | Ireland | 11 days | 2019 | down 42.1% | falling |
| 102 | Israel | 11 days | 2019 | down 38.9% | falling |
| 102 | Italy | 11 days | 2019 | down 12.0% | falling |
| 102 | Saint Lucia | 11 days | 2019 | down 21.4% | falling |
| 102 | Mali | 11 days | 2019 | up 37.5% | volatile |
| 102 | Saudi Arabia | 11 days | 2019 | down 61.4% | volatile |
| 108 | Trinidad and Tobago | 10.5 days | 2019 | down 74.4% | volatile |
| 109 | Russia | 10.1 days | 2019 | down 65.2% | falling |
| 110 | Switzerland | 10 days | 2019 | down 44.4% | falling |
| 110 | Colombia | 10 days | 2019 | down 47.4% | volatile |
| 110 | Gabon | 10 days | 2019 | down 81.5% | falling |
| 110 | Kyrgyzstan | 10 days | 2019 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 110 | Niger | 10 days | 2019 | down 44.4% | falling |
| 110 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 10 days | 2019 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 110 | Taiwan | 10 days | 2019 | down 54.5% | volatile |
| 117 | Qatar | 9.5 days | 2019 | up 5.6% | rising |
| 118 | Afghanistan | 9 days | 2019 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 118 | Benin | 9 days | 2019 | down 74.3% | falling |
| 118 | Bahrain | 9 days | 2019 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 118 | Cape Verde | 9 days | 2019 | down 62.5% | volatile |
| 118 | Guinea-Bissau | 9 days | 2019 | down 95.9% | volatile |
| 118 | Morocco | 9 days | 2019 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 118 | Solomon Islands | 9 days | 2019 | down 83.6% | volatile |
| 118 | Tunisia | 9 days | 2019 | down 30.8% | falling |
| 118 | Samoa | 9 days | 2019 | unchanged | volatile |
| 127 | China | 8.55 days | 2019 | down 77.5% | falling |
| 128 | Belarus | 8.5 days | 2019 | down 34.6% | volatile |
| 128 | Zambia | 8.5 days | 2019 | down 55.3% | volatile |
| 130 | Mexico | 8.41 days | 2019 | down 11.4% | volatile |
| 131 | Germany | 8 days | 2019 | down 54.3% | volatile |
| 131 | Gambia | 8 days | 2019 | down 70.4% | falling |
| 131 | South Korea | 8 days | 2019 | down 42.9% | falling |
| 131 | Sri Lanka | 8 days | 2019 | down 81.8% | volatile |
| 131 | Madagascar | 8 days | 2019 | down 33.3% | volatile |
| 131 | Sierra Leone | 8 days | 2019 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 131 | Slovenia | 8 days | 2019 | up 33.3% | volatile |
| 138 | Sweden | 7.5 days | 2019 | down 53.1% | falling |
| 139 | Nigeria | 7.23 days | 2019 | down 71.1% | falling |
| 140 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 7 days | 2019 | down 94.5% | volatile |
| 140 | Hungary | 7 days | 2019 | up 40.0% | volatile |
| 140 | Myanmar | 7 days | 2019 | down 90.9% | volatile |
| 140 | Serbia | 7 days | 2019 | down 46.2% | volatile |
| 140 | Sao Tome and Principe | 7 days | 2019 | down 95.2% | volatile |
| 140 | Tajikistan | 7 days | 2019 | down 83.3% | volatile |
| 140 | Turkey | 7 days | 2019 | down 33.3% | volatile |
| 147 | Portugal | 6.5 days | 2019 | down 7.1% | volatile |
| 147 | Ukraine | 6.5 days | 2019 | down 76.8% | falling |
| 147 | Uruguay | 6.5 days | 2019 | down 89.8% | volatile |
| 150 | Brunei | 6 days | 2019 | down 95.1% | volatile |
| 150 | Cote d'Ivoire | 6 days | 2019 | down 85.0% | volatile |
| 150 | Cyprus | 6 days | 2019 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 150 | Mauritania | 6 days | 2019 | down 68.4% | volatile |
| 150 | Panama | 6 days | 2019 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 150 | Senegal | 6 days | 2019 | down 33.3% | volatile |
| 150 | Thailand | 6 days | 2019 | down 82.4% | falling |
| 157 | Lithuania | 5.5 days | 2019 | down 78.8% | volatile |
| 157 | Latvia | 5.5 days | 2019 | down 64.5% | falling |
| 157 | Puerto Rico | 5.5 days | 2019 | down 21.4% | falling |
| 160 | Burundi | 5 days | 2019 | down 61.5% | falling |
| 160 | Belgium | 5 days | 2019 | up 11.1% | volatile |
| 160 | Kazakhstan | 5 days | 2019 | down 80.8% | falling |
| 160 | Oman | 5 days | 2019 | down 64.3% | volatile |
| 164 | Albania | 4.5 days | 2019 | down 25.0% | volatile |
| 164 | United Arab Emirates | 4.5 days | 2019 | down 71.9% | falling |
| 164 | United Kingdom | 4.5 days | 2019 | down 60.9% | falling |
| 164 | Mauritius | 4.5 days | 2019 | down 35.7% | volatile |
| 168 | United States | 4.2 days | 2019 | down 16.0% | falling |
| 169 | Armenia | 4 days | 2019 | down 71.4% | volatile |
| 169 | Chile | 4 days | 2019 | down 90.0% | volatile |
| 169 | France | 4 days | 2019 | down 38.5% | volatile |
| 169 | Greece | 4 days | 2019 | down 78.9% | volatile |
| 169 | Moldova | 4 days | 2019 | down 60.0% | volatile |
| 169 | Norway | 4 days | 2019 | down 33.3% | volatile |
| 169 | Rwanda | 4 days | 2019 | down 42.9% | volatile |
| 176 | Azerbaijan | 3.5 days | 2019 | down 65.0% | volatile |
| 176 | Denmark | 3.5 days | 2019 | down 46.2% | falling |
| 176 | Estonia | 3.5 days | 2019 | down 46.2% | volatile |
| 176 | Netherlands | 3.5 days | 2019 | down 56.2% | falling |
| 180 | Jamaica | 3 days | 2019 | down 62.5% | volatile |
| 180 | Uzbekistan | 3 days | 2019 | down 78.6% | volatile |
| 182 | Togo | 2.5 days | 2019 | down 97.0% | volatile |
| 183 | Australia | 2 days | 2019 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 184 | Canada | 1.5 days | 2019 | down 72.7% | falling |
| 184 | Hong Kong | 1.5 days | 2019 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 184 | Singapore | 1.5 days | 2019 | down 40.0% | volatile |
| 187 | Georgia | 1 days | 2019 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 188 | New Zealand | 0.5 days | 2019 | unchanged | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Kosovo 4.5 days
About this data
The time for women captures the median duration that business incorporation experts indicate is necessary for five female married entrepreneurs to complete all procedures required to start and operate a business with minimum follow-up and no extra payments. It is calulared in calendar days. The time estimates of all procedures are added to calculate the total time required to start and operate a business, taking into account simultaneity of processes. It is assumed that the minimum time required for each procedure is one day, except for procedures that can be fully completed online, for which the time required is recorded as half a day.