Top 20 Countries in the World for Business in 2026 according to the IBEI Index

#Top 20 Countries in the World for Business in 2026 according to the IBEI Index 🌍🚀

The Innovators Business Environment Index 2026 (IBEI) has been published — a global study assessing how ready different countries are for launching and scaling businesses.
The ranking covers 125 countries and is based on 30+ indicators, from regulation and taxation to access to finance, digital infrastructure, and trust in institutions.

The IBEI answers three key questions for entrepreneurs:
👉 Is it easy to start a business?
👉 Can you operate profitably?
👉 Can you trust the system?

Top 20 Countries for Doing Business in 2026 (IBEI) 🏆

1. United States
2. Singapore
3. United Kingdom
4. Switzerland
5. United Arab Emirates
6. Canada
7. Netherlands
8. Japan
9. Saudi Arabia
10. Norway
11. New Zealand
12. Sweden
13. Luxembourg
14. Israel
15. Cyprus
16. Australia
17. Ireland
18. Estonia
19. Finland
20. Denmark

What the ranking analysis shows 📊

The analysis highlights several important trends.
Most countries in the Top 20 offer strong access to capital, well-developed financial infrastructure, effective regulation, and stable institutions. High-quality digital infrastructure and internet freedom are also common features among the leaders.

At the same time, taxation is rarely the main competitive advantage. Only a few jurisdictions — notably the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Cyprus — demonstrate truly strong tax positions within the Top 20.

🔑 Key takeaway: a successful business environment is built not on a single advantage, but on a balanced combination of regulation, finance, infrastructure, and trust in the system. This balance is increasingly becoming the decisive factor for businesses and investors when choosing a jurisdiction.

As we can see, a significant number of countries in the ranking are EU Member States. These jurisdictions remain highly attractive for doing business, particularly in the fields of finance and virtual assets. The introduction of the MiCA regulation has made regulatory requirements more transparent, unified, and predictable for both companies and investors. In response to these changes, we offer a full range of services for businesses operating in or entering this sector.

FinanceIQ Hub offers:

• support with company formation and licensing;
• opening of accounts (operational, client, merchant, and liquidity accounts);
• end-to-end business setup;
• issuance of IBANs and payment cards;
• advisory services on ongoing operations and comprehensive support for banking and financial activities;
• and many other tailored solutions to meet your business needs.

Contact us to receive more information.