The 10 best countries to start a business in Africa

By Peter Guest, for CNN

Updated 1044 GMT (1844 HKT) January 28, 2016

Swaziland's small size and a widespread perception that it is a difficult place to operate make it a surprising inclusion in Africa's top-10 for doing business. However, the country's close economic integration with its neighbors means that it scores disproportionately highly on the World Bank's 'Trading Across Borders' metric -- at 30th in the world. For start-ups, the cost of registering a business and in particularly getting connected to the electricity grid could be prohibitively high.<br /><br /><strong>Doing Business World Rank: 105</strong><br /><strong>Days to start a business: 30</strong><br /><strong>Days to get electricity: 137</strong><br /><strong>Days to register property: 21</strong>
Photos: The Top 10 countries to start a business in Africa
10. Swaziland – Swaziland's small size and a widespread perception that it is a difficult place to operate make it a surprising inclusion in Africa's top-10 for doing business. However, the country's close economic integration with its neighbors means that it scores disproportionately highly on the World Bank's 'Trading Across Borders' metric -- at 30th in the world. For start-ups, the cost of registering a business and in particularly getting connected to the electricity grid could be prohibitively high.

Doing Business World Rank: 105
Days to start a business: 30
Days to get electricity: 137
Days to register property: 21
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Namibia rarely features on investors' radars due to its comparatively small economy and close integration with South Africa, its much-larger neighbor. However, the country still offers opportunities for entrepreneurs due to the relative ease with which start-ups can access credit and power. However, some of the bureaucratic barriers -- such as the time-consuming process to register a business or property -- remain high.<br /><br /><strong>Doing Business World Rank: 101</strong><br /><strong>Days to start a business: 66</strong><br /><strong>Days to get electricity: 37</strong><br /><strong>Days to register property: 52</strong>
Photos: The Top 10 countries to start a business in Africa
9. Namibia – Namibia rarely features on investors' radars due to its comparatively small economy and close integration with South Africa, its much-larger neighbor. However, the country still offers opportunities for entrepreneurs due to the relative ease with which start-ups can access credit and power. However, some of the bureaucratic barriers -- such as the time-consuming process to register a business or property -- remain high.

Doing Business World Rank: 101
Days to start a business: 66
Days to get electricity: 37
Days to register property: 52
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With an ongoing economic crisis and a slumping currency, Zambians were urged to look to the heavens for respite in October, after the president called for a day of prayer and reflection to halt the slide. The country faces many challenges -- particularly a lack of power that has caused blackouts in the capital, Lusaka, for the first time in years. However, there are still some positives for Zambian entrepreneurs. The country is still a competitive environment for start-ups -- scoring higher on the 'Starting a Business' section of the World Bank's Doing Business ranking than South Africa, and in the global top-20 for getting credit.<br /><br /><strong>Doing Business World Rank: 97</strong><br /><strong>Days to start a business: 7.5</strong><br /><strong>Days to get electricity: 117</strong><br /><strong>Days to register property: 45</strong>
Photos: The Top 10 countries to start a business in Africa
8. Zambia – With an ongoing economic crisis and a slumping currency, Zambians were urged to look to the heavens for respite in October, after the president called for a day of prayer and reflection to halt the slide. The country faces many challenges -- particularly a lack of power that has caused blackouts in the capital, Lusaka, for the first time in years. However, there are still some positives for Zambian entrepreneurs. The country is still a competitive environment for start-ups -- scoring higher on the 'Starting a Business' section of the World Bank's Doing Business ranking than South Africa, and in the global top-20 for getting credit.

Doing Business World Rank: 97
Days to start a business: 7.5
Days to get electricity: 117
Days to register property: 45
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