Time to export: Documentary compliance (hours) (DB16-20 methodology) by country

The time for documentary compliance to export records the time associated with compliance with the export documentary requirements of all government agencies of the origin economy, the destination economy and any transit economies. It is calculated in hours. It includes the time for obtaining documents; preparing...

Countries reporting
186
Highest
528 DB16-20 methodology
Venezuela
Lowest
0.5 DB16-20 methodology
Slovenia
Median
24.5 DB16-20 methodology
Years covered
6
2014–2019
Data points
1,126

What the numbers show

Time to export: Documentary compliance (hours) (DB16-20 methodology) is currently reported for 186 countries. The highest value is 528 DB16-20 methodology in Venezuela; the lowest is 0.5 DB16-20 methodology in Slovenia.

The median across all reporting countries is 24.5 DB16-20 methodology, and the mean is 47.52 DB16-20 methodology.

The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 1,056.

Over the past decade 2 countries rose and 58 fell. The largest increase was in Nepal (up 130.7%), and the largest decrease in Georgia (down 96.9%).

Time to export: Documentary compliance (hours): full country ranking

#Country LatestYear 10-year changeTrend
1 Venezuela 528 DB16-20 methodology 2018 flat
2 Iraq 504 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
3 Afghanistan 228 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 6.0% falling
4 Guyana 200 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
5 Democratic Republic of Congo 192 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 38.9% falling
5 South Sudan 192 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
7 Sudan 190 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
8 Mongolia 168 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
9 Brunei 155 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 7.7% falling
10 Equatorial Guinea 154 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
11 Algeria 149.14 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
12 Bangladesh 147 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
13 Bolivia 144 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 25.0% falling
13 Liberia 144 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
13 Myanmar 144 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
16 Guinea 138.7 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
17 Cambodia 132 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
18 Kazakhstan 128 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 3.0% flat
19 Burundi 120 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
19 Congo 120 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
21 Tonga 108 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
22 Zimbabwe 99 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
23 Angola 96 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 43.2% falling
23 Tanzania 96 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 20.0% falling
23 Uzbekistan 96 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 44.9% falling
23 Zambia 96 DB16-20 methodology 2019 up 33.3% flat
27 Namibia 90 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
28 Ghana 89.33 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
29 Egypt 88 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
30 Chad 87 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
31 Burkina Faso 84 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
31 Cote d'Ivoire 84 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
33 Ethiopia 76 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 16.5% falling
34 Malawi 75 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 9.6% falling
35 Nigeria 74 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 43.7% falling
36 Somalia 72.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 flat
37 Kyrgyzstan 72 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 4.0% flat
37 Kuwait 72 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
37 Libya 72 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
37 Palau 72 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
37 Palestine 72 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
37 Sierra Leone 72 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 46.2% falling
37 Vanuatu 72 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
44 South Africa 68 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
45 Cameroon 66 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
45 Tajikistan 66 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 51.1% falling
45 Ukraine 66 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
48 Indonesia 61.32 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 14.8% falling
49 Gabon 60 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
49 Guinea-Bissau 60 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
49 Laos 60 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
49 Solomon Islands 60 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
53 Fiji 56.33 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
54 Pakistan 55 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 10.9% falling
55 Antigua and Barbuda 50.67 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
55 Mauritania 50.67 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 13.6% falling
55 Niger 50.67 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
58 Comoros 50 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 12.3% falling
58 Vietnam 50 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 39.8% falling
60 Madagascar 48.91 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 17.0% falling
61 Benin 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 55.6% falling
61 Barbados 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 10.3% falling
61 Central African Republic 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
61 Colombia 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 20.0% falling
61 Gambia 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
61 Guatemala 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
61 Honduras 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
61 Lebanon 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
61 Sri Lanka 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 36.8% falling
61 Moldova 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
61 Maldives 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
61 Mali 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 12.7% falling
61 Nicaragua 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
61 Papua New Guinea 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 50.0% falling
61 Syria 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
61 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 48 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
77 Jamaica 47 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 23.8% falling
78 Sao Tome and Principe 46.25 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 8.0% falling
79 Seychelles 43.64 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
80 Nepal 43 DB16-20 methodology 2019 up 130.7% rising
81 Belize 38 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
82 Mozambique 36 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 48.8% falling
82 Philippines 36 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
84 Iran 33 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 74.0% falling
84 East Timor 33 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
86 Trinidad and Tobago 32 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
87 Rwanda 30 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 28.6% falling
88 Azerbaijan 28.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 19.6% falling
89 Micronesia (country) 26 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
89 Senegal 26 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
91 Morocco 25.62 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 3.8% flat
92 Russia 25.4 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
93 Argentina 25 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 7.4% falling
94 Bahrain 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
94 Chile 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
94 Cape Verde 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 50.0% falling
94 Costa Rica 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
94 Ecuador 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
94 Kiribati 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
94 Saint Kitts and Nevis 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 50.0% falling
94 Marshall Islands 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
94 Malta 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
94 Peru 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 50.0% falling
94 Paraguay 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 50.0% falling
94 Uganda 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 62.4% falling
94 Uruguay 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
94 Samoa 24 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
108 Haiti 22 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 8.3% falling
109 Kenya 19 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
109 Saint Lucia 19 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 20.8% falling
111 Botswana 18 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 25.0% falling
112 Grenada 13.33 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
113 Bahamas 12 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 80.0% volatile
113 Brazil 12 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 60.0% falling
113 Dominica 12 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
113 Suriname 12 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 66.7% volatile
117 India 11.64 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 71.9% falling
118 Thailand 11.27 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
119 Saudi Arabia 11 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 87.8% falling
119 Togo 11 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 26.7% falling
121 Dominican Republic 10 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 70.6% volatile
121 Israel 10 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 20.0% falling
121 Malaysia 10 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
124 Qatar 9.78 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
125 El Salvador 9.33 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
126 Bhutan 9 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
126 Mauritius 9 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
128 China 8.62 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 59.3% falling
129 Mexico 8 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
130 Australia 7 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
130 Oman 7 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 77.3% volatile
132 Albania 6 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
132 Jordan 6 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
132 Panama 6 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
135 Montenegro 5.41 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
136 Taiwan 5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 84.1% volatile
137 United Arab Emirates 4.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 27.7% falling
138 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.33 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
139 Belarus 4 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
139 United Kingdom 4 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
139 Turkey 4 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 20.0% falling
142 New Zealand 3 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
142 Tunisia 3 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
144 Lithuania 2.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
145 Japan 2.37 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
146 Serbia 2.33 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
147 Armenia 2 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
147 Cyprus 2 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
147 Finland 2 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
147 Iceland 2 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
147 Latvia 2 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
147 North Macedonia 2 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
147 Norway 2 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
147 Singapore 2 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
147 Eswatini 2 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 43.8% falling
156 Bulgaria 1.75 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
157 Puerto Rico 1.71 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
158 Switzerland 1.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
158 Georgia 1.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 96.9% volatile
158 United States 1.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
161 Canada 1 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
161 Germany 1 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
161 Greece 1 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
161 Ireland 1 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
161 South Korea 1 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
161 Lesotho 1 DB16-20 methodology 2019 down 66.7% falling
161 Sweden 1 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
168 Hungary 0.75 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
169 Hong Kong 0.666 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Austria 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Belgium 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Czechia 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Denmark 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Spain 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Estonia 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 France 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Croatia 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Italy 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Luxembourg 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Netherlands 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Poland 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Portugal 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Romania 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 San Marino 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Slovakia 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat
170 Slovenia 0.5 DB16-20 methodology 2019 unchanged flat

Regions and income groups

Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.

About this data

Indicator
Time to export: Documentary compliance (hours) (DB16-20 methodology)
Unit
DB16-20 methodology
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
188 places, 1,126 data points, 2014–2019
Last refreshed

The time for documentary compliance to export records the time associated with compliance with the export documentary requirements of all government agencies of the origin economy, the destination economy and any transit economies. It is calculated in hours. It includes the time for obtaining documents; preparing documents; processing documents; presenting documents; and submitting documents. All electronic or paper submissions of information requested by any government agency in connection with the shipment are considered to be documents obtained, prepared and submitted during the export process. All documents prepared by the freight forwarder or customs broker for the product and partner pair assumed in the case study are included regardless of whether they are required by law or in practice. The component indicator is computed based on the methodology in the DB16-20 studies.