Time required to start a business in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Time required to start a business was 4.5 days in 2019. ▼ Falling
Time required to start a business in United Kingdom, 2003–2019
Source: Doing Business project, World Bank (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in days.
Analysis
In 2019, time required to start a business in United Kingdom stood at 4.5 days. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is down 60.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, time required to start a business in United Kingdom peaked at 12 days in 2003 and was at its lowest, 4.5 days, in 2015.
United Kingdom ranks 163rd of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Time required to start a business in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | days | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 12 days | — |
| 2004 | 12 days | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 11.5 days | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 11.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 11.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 11.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 11.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 11.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 11.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 11.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 11.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 6 days | -47.8% |
| 2015 | 4.5 days | -25.0% |
| 2016 | 4.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 4.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 4.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 4.5 days | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 4.5 days is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.5 days, 53% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 4.5 days is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.25 days, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.64 days | 11.5 days | 12 days | 7 |
| 2010s | 7.45 days | 4.5 days | 11.5 days | 10 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is time required to start a business in United Kingdom?
- Time required to start a business in United Kingdom was 4.5 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 12 days in 2003.
- What is the lowest time required to start a business recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5 days in 2015.
- How does United Kingdom rank for time required to start a business?
- United Kingdom ranks 163rd out of 188 countries with data for 2019.
- Is time required to start a business rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.