Global Entrepreneurship Index 2026
The Opinium Global Entrepreneurship Index is an annual report into the world’s most attractive markets for starting and growing a business. Covering 137 countries over a 15-year period, our Index provides key strategic insights into the factors that shape entrepreneurship and economic growth globally.
Key insights from the latest index
- The UK ranks 24th globally, down from 19th a decade ago and remaining outside the global top 20 since 2019.
- Three in five UK entrepreneurs (57%) say it is more difficult to start a business than it was 10 years ago.
- Higher taxes and business costs (48%) and economic uncertainty (47%) are seen as the biggest barriers to starting a business.
- Half (50%) of UK entrepreneurs think the general environment for running a business has worsened in the last three to five years.
- Singapore remains the world’s leading market for entrepreneurship for the fourth consecutive year, while Asian and Middle Eastern representation in the global top 20 has doubled over the past decade.
What does this mean for the UK?
The UK remains a strong global market for entrepreneurship, but its gradual decline over the past decade highlights the need to create stronger conditions for businesses to start and grow.
Explore the data now by downloading the report
