Time required to start a business in Germany
Germany: Time required to start a business was 8 days in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Time required to start a business in Germany, 2003–2019
Source: Doing Business project, World Bank (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in days.
Analysis
Germany recorded 8 days for time required to start a business in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
That represents a change of down 54.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, time required to start a business in Germany peaked at 45 days in 2003 and was at its lowest, 8 days, in 2016.
Germany ranks 131st of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Time required to start a business in Germany, year by year
| Year | days | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 45 days | — |
| 2004 | 45 days | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 22 days | -51.1% |
| 2006 | 22 days | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 18 days | -18.2% |
| 2008 | 17.5 days | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 17.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 14.5 days | -17.1% |
| 2011 | 14.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 14.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 14.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 14.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 10.5 days | -27.6% |
| 2016 | 8 days | -23.8% |
| 2017 | 8 days | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 8 days | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 8 days | +0.0% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 8 days is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.5 days, 94% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Germany's 8 days is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.25 days, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.71 days | 17.5 days | 45 days | 7 |
| 2010s | 11.5 days | 8 days | 14.5 days | 10 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is time required to start a business in Germany?
- Time required to start a business in Germany was 8 days in 2019, according to Doing Business project, World Bank (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest time required to start a business recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 45 days in 2003.
- What is the lowest time required to start a business recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 8 days in 2016.
- How does Germany rank for time required to start a business?
- Germany ranks 131st out of 188 countries with data for 2019.
- Is time required to start a business rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Doing Business project, World Bank (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Time required to start a business. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business.