Affärslivet composite index · 7 dimensions · World Bank data
Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026
The Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026 ranks 49 economies on business climate across 7 equal-weighted dimensions. Singapore leads (76.5/100); Sweden ranks 16th. Transparent method, downloadable data, CC BY 4.0.
TL;DR — Singapore leads the Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026 with 76.5/100.
World Bank Open Data · World Bank · World Bank · World Bank | 49 entities | 901 words · 15 sections | data: CSV + JSON
Executive summary
The Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026 ranks 49 economies on business climate by combining 7 equal-weighted dimensions, each normalised to a 0–100 scale. Unlike a single-metric league table, it rewards balanced strength across seven dimensions, so a country cannot top it on one standout number alone. Singapore leads with 76.5/100; Sweden ranks 16th of 49 with 38.2/100. This is Affärslivet's own composite — fully transparent: every input is an official World Bank series with a source URL, and the method below is reproducible. The complete ranking with per-dimension scores is downloadable as CSV and JSON under a CC BY 4.0 licence.
Key findings
Singapore leads on business climate
Singapore tops the Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026 with a composite score of 76.5/100. Top five: Singapore, Ireland, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Iceland.
Source: Affärslivet Research · 2026 · confidence: Medium-High
Where Sweden ranks
Sweden ranks 16th of 49 (38.2/100). Strongest dimension: investment (57.1/100); weakest: growth (11.3/100).
Source: Affärslivet Research · 2026 · confidence: Medium-High
The dimensions
The index combines prosperity, growth, investment, entrepreneurship, capital markets, innovation, external balance — each an official World Bank series, equal-weighted.
Source: Affärslivet Research · 2026 · confidence: High
Data vintage — August 2026
Each dimension uses the most recent World Bank year available per economy. Scores are relative (normalised across the ranked set) and update as peer data changes; the index regenerates automatically.
The index — top economies
The chart shows the 15 highest-scoring economies (Sweden highlighted); scores are the equal-weighted mean of 7 dimensions, each normalised 0–100 across the 49 ranked economies.
Sweden, dimension by dimension
Sweden ranks 16th of 49 overall (38.2/100). Its normalised score and world rank on each dimension are below — a map of where the Swedish business climate is genuinely strong and where it lags.
Sweden's profile is relatively lopsided (a 46-point spread between its best and weakest dimension), scoring highest on investment and lowest on growth.
| Dimension | Score /100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Prosperity (GDP per capita, PPP) | 41.0 | 14th of 49 |
| Growth (real GDP growth) | 11.3 | 30th of 49 |
| Investment (FDI, % of GDP) | 57.1 | 13th of 49 |
| Entrepreneurship (new business density) | 36.3 | 12th of 48 |
| Innovation (high-tech exports) | 28.3 | 26th of 49 |
| External balance (current account, % of GDP) | 55.3 | 10th of 49 |
Who leads each dimension
No single economy tops every dimension — the overall winner (Singapore) leads by being strong across the board (a 60-point spread across its dimensions). This table shows the world leader on each individual dimension of the index.
| Dimension | World leader | Score /100 |
|---|---|---|
| Prosperity (GDP per capita, PPP) | Singapore | 100.0 |
| Growth (real GDP growth) | Ireland | 100.0 |
| Investment (FDI, % of GDP) | Singapore | 100.0 |
| Entrepreneurship (new business density) | United Kingdom | 100.0 |
| Capital markets (market cap, % of GDP) | South Africa | 100.0 |
| Innovation (high-tech exports) | Philippines | 100.0 |
| External balance (current account, % of GDP) | Ireland | 100.0 |
Regional patterns
Median composite score by world region reveals where business climate concentrates. Asia-Pacific leads on the median measure. Regional medians tell a story the country ranking alone can hide — whether strength is broad across a region or driven by one or two standouts.
| Region | Economies | Median score | Regional leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific | 12 | 37.9 | Singapore (76.5) |
| Middle East & Africa | 7 | 34.1 | United Arab Emirates (45.2) |
| Europe | 23 | 29.3 | Ireland (68.2) |
| Americas | 7 | 23.8 | United States (41.2) |
What the index reveals
What the data says: Singapore leads with 76.5/100, 2.4× the median score of 32.0. The spread across the 49 ranked economies shows business climate is concentrated among a clear top tier, and — because the index equal-weights several dimensions — the leaders got there by being strong across the board, not on one metric alone.
For Sweden, the index indicates a middling position on business climate: 16th of 49 (38.2/100), strongest on investment and with most room to improve on growth.
Top 5 vs bottom 5
The five highest- and five lowest-scoring economies on the Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026 side by side — the clearest snapshot of the range across the 49 ranked economies.
| Top 5 | Score /100 | Bottom 5 | Score /100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Singapore | 76.5 | 45. Colombia | 20.0 |
| 2. Ireland | 68.2 | 46. Argentina | 19.7 |
| 3. Denmark | 45.5 | 47. Hungary | 18.5 |
| 4. United Arab Emirates | 45.2 | 48. Egypt | 18.2 |
| 5. Iceland | 45.1 | 49. Ukraine | 13.2 |
How the index is built
The Affärslivet Business Climate Index ranks economies on the overall strength of their business environment — combining how prosperous, dynamic, open and innovative each economy is into a single score.
Each dimension is min-max normalised across all economies with data (lowest = 0, highest = 100); dimensions where lower is better (e.g. unemployment, debt, inequality) are inverted so a higher score always means better. The composite is the equal-weighted mean of the dimensions an economy reports; a minimum of 5 is required to be ranked. Equal weighting is a deliberate, transparent choice.
| Dimension | Direction | World Bank series |
|---|---|---|
| Prosperity (GDP per capita, PPP) | higher = better | NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD |
| Growth (real GDP growth) | higher = better | NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG |
| Investment (FDI, % of GDP) | higher = better | BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS |
| Entrepreneurship (new business density) | higher = better | IC.BUS.NDNS.ZS |
| Capital markets (market cap, % of GDP) | higher = better | CM.MKT.LCAP.GD.ZS |
| Innovation (high-tech exports) | higher = better | TX.VAL.TECH.MF.ZS |
| External balance (current account, % of GDP) | higher = better | BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS |
Full ranking — 49 economies
Complete ranking with composite score and each economy's normalised (0–100) score per dimension.
| # | Country | Index | Prosperity | Growth | Investment | Entrep. | Markets | Innov. | Ext. bal. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 76.5 | 100.0 | 39.9 | 100.0 | 60.0 | 41.1 | 97.4 | 97.3 |
| 2 | Ireland | 68.2 | 94.6 | 100.0 | 53.3 | 34.0 | 7.6 | 87.7 | 100.0 |
| 3 | Denmark | 45.5 | 47.9 | 22.6 | 59.7 | 35.1 | — | 28.3 | 79.5 |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | 45.2 | 45.4 | 31.4 | 67.0 | 12.1 | 57.9 | 13.9 | 88.5 |
| 5 | Iceland | 45.1 | 48.0 | 9.1 | 50.9 | 56.2 | — | 88.4 | 17.7 |
| 6 | Switzerland | 45.0 | 60.4 | 9.3 | 49.7 | 15.5 | 73.4 | 48.1 | 58.9 |
| 7 | Norway | 44.2 | 61.4 | 7.5 | 49.2 | 42.8 | 20.5 | 41.2 | 86.5 |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 42.8 | 35.8 | 10.0 | 55.4 | 100.0 | 29.0 | 47.5 | 21.8 |
| 9 | China | 42.6 | 12.9 | 39.3 | 52.6 | 81.1 | 23.5 | 42.6 | 46.3 |
| 10 | Malaysia | 42.4 | 20.8 | 41.1 | 58.6 | 11.6 | 30.8 | 96.1 | 38.1 |
| 11 | Australia | 42.2 | 40.6 | 9.7 | 55.6 | 94.1 | 34.1 | 40.7 | 20.8 |
| 12 | United States | 41.2 | 52.3 | 16.3 | 54.2 | — | 68.1 | 39.3 | 17.1 |
| 13 | Viet Nam | 40.8 | 5.6 | 64.5 | 59.6 | 9.6 | 17.9 | 72.3 | 56.4 |
| 14 | Netherlands | 39.2 | 50.6 | 13.2 | 49.3 | 17.0 | 39.0 | 37.9 | 67.4 |
| 15 | South Korea | 39.1 | 34.8 | 6.9 | 53.4 | 17.6 | 44.4 | 59.1 | 57.3 |
| 16 | Sweden | 38.2 | 41.0 | 11.3 | 57.1 | 36.3 | — | 28.3 | 55.3 |
| 17 | South Africa | 37.2 | 4.1 | 7.7 | 50.9 | 59.3 | 100.0 | 8.5 | 29.7 |
| 18 | India | 36.7 | 1.4 | 60.8 | 53.7 | 0.0 | 81.4 | 29.8 | 29.7 |
| 19 | Canada | 35.5 | 37.2 | 12.9 | 57.3 | 26.2 | 60.5 | 26.9 | 27.6 |
| 20 | Israel | 35.0 | 32.6 | 22.7 | 59.7 | 14.4 | 17.8 | 60.7 | 36.9 |
| 21 | Saudi Arabia | 34.1 | 41.8 | 35.6 | 56.5 | 27.8 | 56.0 | 0.0 | 21.3 |
| 22 | Philippines | 32.2 | 2.0 | 34.8 | 54.8 | 1.7 | 13.7 | 100.0 | 18.2 |
| 23 | France | 32.1 | 35.4 | 5.5 | 55.8 | 34.9 | 25.2 | 37.4 | 30.3 |
| 24 | Japan | 32.1 | 29.8 | 8.4 | 53.7 | 2.1 | 51.9 | 28.1 | 50.6 |
| 25 | Chile | 32.0 | 18.4 | 18.8 | 59.3 | 46.9 | 41.0 | 12.9 | 26.6 |
| 26 | New Zealand | 31.4 | 31.1 | 2.4 | 54.4 | 83.5 | 11.0 | 20.6 | 17.1 |
| 27 | Portugal | 30.8 | 28.4 | 13.9 | 59.7 | 56.9 | 6.9 | 10.3 | 39.6 |
| 28 | Thailand | 30.0 | 10.9 | 18.7 | 57.8 | 8.3 | 26.4 | 45.9 | 42.3 |
| 29 | Czechia | 29.3 | 33.1 | 19.8 | 56.8 | 21.7 | 3.3 | 36.2 | 33.9 |
| 30 | Spain | 29.3 | 32.7 | 21.8 | 54.5 | 18.4 | 20.0 | 14.5 | 43.0 |
| 31 | Germany | 28.6 | 42.8 | 0.5 | 55.3 | 6.7 | 16.7 | 28.8 | 49.2 |
| 32 | Finland | 28.3 | 36.6 | 0.0 | 51.7 | 30.5 | — | 14.5 | 36.7 |
| 33 | Belgium | 27.8 | 42.4 | 6.7 | 44.6 | 27.0 | 17.2 | 32.8 | 23.8 |
| 34 | Poland | 26.0 | 29.1 | 27.9 | 55.4 | 11.6 | 8.4 | 21.5 | 27.9 |
| 35 | Austria | 25.4 | 43.7 | 3.6 | 48.2 | 4.3 | 10.2 | 29.6 | 38.5 |
| 36 | Indonesia | 24.0 | 5.3 | 40.6 | 54.7 | 4.0 | 19.2 | 13.5 | 31.0 |
| 37 | Italy | 23.9 | 34.6 | 3.0 | 51.9 | 15.3 | 7.3 | 19.4 | 35.9 |
| 38 | Brazil | 23.8 | 9.0 | 17.4 | 58.1 | 34.1 | 10.8 | 17.5 | 19.9 |
| 39 | Russia | 22.8 | 26.0 | 6.8 | 53.5 | 11.1 | 8.8 | 15.2 | 38.0 |
| 40 | Turkiye | 22.4 | 23.2 | 28.2 | 53.4 | 9.5 | 6.8 | 7.6 | 28.4 |
| 41 | Nigeria | 21.9 | 0.0 | 31.6 | 54.4 | 4.9 | 8.2 | 3.6 | 50.4 |
| 42 | Romania | 21.6 | 26.9 | 4.1 | 55.9 | 38.4 | 4.1 | 21.4 | 0.2 |
| 43 | Greece | 21.1 | 23.2 | 15.6 | 56.7 | 12.0 | 13.1 | 23.9 | 3.4 |
| 44 | Mexico | 20.4 | 10.6 | 3.2 | 56.2 | 4.1 | 8.4 | 31.0 | 29.6 |
| 45 | Colombia | 20.0 | 8.5 | 20.3 | 56.5 | 10.8 | 7.9 | 14.0 | 22.0 |
| 46 | Argentina | 19.7 | 15.0 | 34.5 | 52.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 5.5 | 27.0 |
| 47 | Hungary | 18.5 | 26.2 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 19.2 | 6.8 | 36.5 | 37.9 |
| 48 | Egypt | 18.2 | 6.9 | 34.7 | 59.6 | 0.5 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 16.3 |
| 49 | Ukraine | 13.2 | 6.1 | 13.5 | 55.7 | 7.7 | 0.0 | 9.6 | 0.0 |
Limitations & what the index can't tell you
This is a composite, and composites make choices. Scores are relative to the 49 ranked economies, so they shift as the field changes, not only as a country improves. Each dimension uses the most recent World Bank year available, and reporting lags differ across countries. Equal weighting is deliberate but not neutral — a differently weighted index would reorder the middle of the table (the top and bottom are robust).
The index measures the dimensions of business climate that official data captures; it is not a verdict on quality of life, policy or outcomes beyond them. We publish the full method and data precisely so others can reweight, extend or challenge it — reproducibility is the point.
Scoreboard (machine-readable data)
Every headline indicator with its value, period, source and confidence. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0.
Methodology & verification
The Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026 equal-weights 7 World Bank dimensions, each min-max normalised to 0–100 (dimensions where lower is better are inverted). The composite is the mean of the dimensions an economy reports; at least 5 are required. Scores are relative to the ranked set and shift as peer data updates. Every input is an official World Bank series (compiled from the IMF, WHO, UNESCO and national sources) with a source URL; nothing is estimated. This is Affärslivet's own composite — transparent and reproducible, not an official World Bank, IMF or UN index. Confidence: Medium-High.
Data dictionary
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| metric | string | business_climate_index |
| label | string | Country name |
| value | number | Composite score, 0–100 |
| unit | string | /100 |
| geography | string | Country |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026?
A composite ranking of 49 economies on business climate, combining 7 World Bank dimensions (Prosperity, Growth, Investment, Entrep., Markets, Innov., Ext. bal.), each normalised 0–100 and equal-weighted. It is Affärslivet's own, transparent index.
Which country ranks first?
Singapore leads with 76.5/100. Top five: Singapore, Ireland, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Iceland.
Where does Sweden rank?
Sweden ranks 16th of 49 with 38.2/100, strongest on investment.
How is it calculated?
Each of 7 World Bank indicators is min-max normalised 0–100 (lower-is-better dimensions inverted), then equal-weighted into a mean. Minimum 5 dimensions required. Fully documented and reproducible.
Is this an official index?
No — it is Affärslivet's own composite, built transparently from official World Bank data. It is not a World Bank, IMF, UN or WEF index.
Can I download the data?
Yes — the full ranking with per-dimension scores is available as CSV and JSON under CC BY 4.0, free to reuse with attribution to Affärslivet.
Which countries rank in the top 5 of the Business Climate Index?
The top five are Singapore, Ireland, Denmark, United Arab Emirates and Iceland, based on the Business Climate Index (Affärslivet, 2026-08-01).
Where does Sweden rank in the Business Climate Index?
Sweden ranks #16 of 49 (38.2) in the Business Climate Index, as of 2026-08-01. Source: Affärslivet.
How many countries are ranked in the Business Climate Index?
49 economies are included in the Business Climate Index (2026-08-01). Full data is free to download as CSV or JSON under CC BY 4.0.
Glossary
- Composite index
- A single score combining several indicators, here the equal-weighted mean of 7 normalised dimensions. ↗
- Min-max normalisation
- Rescaling so the lowest value becomes 0 and the highest 100, making different indicators comparable; 'lower is better' dimensions are inverted. ↗
- Prosperity
- Dimension of the index — World Bank series NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD (higher is better). ↗
- Growth
- Dimension of the index — World Bank series NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG (higher is better). ↗
- Investment
- Dimension of the index — World Bank series BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS (higher is better). ↗
- Entrepreneurship
- Dimension of the index — World Bank series IC.BUS.NDNS.ZS (higher is better). ↗
Embed & cite this report
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APA
Affärslivet Research. (2026). Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026. Affärslivet. Version 1.0. https://xn--affrslivet-s5a.com/en/reports/business-climate-index
MLA
Affärslivet Research. "Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026." Affärslivet, 2026-07-01, https://xn--affrslivet-s5a.com/en/reports/business-climate-index.
BibTeX
@techreport{affarslivet_business_climate_index,
title = {Affärslivet Business Climate Index 2026},
author = {{Affärslivet Research}},
year = {2026},
note = {Version 1.0},
url = {https://xn--affrslivet-s5a.com/en/reports/business-climate-index}
} License CC BY 4.0 — free to cite, embed and republish with attribution to Affärslivet. Data also as CSV / JSON.