Top 10 Countries for Startup Success Ranked
As World Entrepreneurs Day approaches on 21st August, entrepreneurs are celebrated for their creativity, perseverance, and drive to transform ideas into successful businesses.
Acknowledging the crucial role entrepreneurs play in boosting economic growth, insolvency specialists Liquidation Centre set out to identify the countries that offer the most favourable environment for launching a new start-up.
Key findings:
- Singapore ranks as the top country for entrepreneurs to start a business, achieving a startup potential score of 9.72 out of 10.
- The United Kingdom takes second place among fifty countries, with a score of 9.6 out of 10.
- The United States leads in the total number of verified startups, with 3,525 new businesses registered on Startup Ranking.
- The Netherlands completes the top ten, scoring 9.24.
Top 10 Countries for Launching a Startup
| Rank | Country | Number Of Verified Startups (Startup Ranking) |
Corporate Tax Rate |
Working Age Population (%) |
Visa Duration (years) |
Entrepreneurial Visa Processing Time (weeks) |
Startup-Potential Score / 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Singapore | 203 | 17.00 | 71.1 | 1 | 8 | 9.72 |
| 2. | United Kingdom | 883 | 25.00 | 63.9 | 2 | 5.5 | 9.60 |
| =3. | Canada | 417 | 22.00 | 63.4 | 5 | 124 | 9.54 |
| =3. | Spain | 273 | 14.50 | 66.1 | 1 | 20 | 9.54 |
| =3. | Estonia | 99 | 11.33 | 62.2 | 1 | 8.5 | 9.54 |
| =6. | United States | 3525 | 21.00 | 63.4 | 2.5 | / | 9.36 |
| =6. | Australia | 370 | 27.50 | 64.7 | 5 | 24 | 9.36 |
| =8. | Brazil | 229 | 21.00 | 69.5 | / | / | 9.30 |
| =8. | United Arab Emirates | 105 | 4.50 | 81.4 | / | / | 9.30 |
| 10. | Netherlands | 205 | 20.00 | 64.1 | 1 | 12 | 9.24 |
*Full data and methodology available on request.
Singapore Tops List for Entrepreneurs
The analysis shows Singapore as the leading country to start a business, with a startup potential score of 9.72. Known for its culture of innovation and strong connections to Asian markets, Singapore’s 17% corporate tax rate (the fourth lowest among the top ten) further enhances its appeal for new business owners.
The United Kingdom ranks second, achieving a score of 9.6. Despite having a higher corporate tax rate of 25% (second highest in the top ten), the UK offers a thriving startup ecosystem, with 883 verified startups and a typical visa processing time of around five weeks, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs.
Canada shares third place with Spain and Estonia, all scoring 9.54. Canada stands out with 417 verified startups, the most in this group. Although visa processing can be lengthy at 124 weeks, its expanding startup community continues to draw business founders.
Spain also ranks joint third, with 273 verified startups and a corporate tax rate of 14.5%, while Estonia rounds out the trio with 99 verified startups and the second-lowest corporate tax in the top ten (11.33%), offering a compelling environment for new businesses.