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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Another small Indian Ocean island nation, the Seychelles has taken a similar approach to Mauritius and attempted to set itself up as a hub for investment and administration to complement its tourism business. The country has attracted an unfortunate reputation as a tax haven, and has prioritised the need to trade across borders and resolve disputes.<br /><br /><strong>Doing Business World Rank: 95</strong><br /><strong>Days to start a business: 32</strong><br /><strong>Days to get electricity: 137</strong><br /><strong>Days to register property: 33</strong>
Photos: The Top 10 countries to start a business in Africa
7. Seychelles – Another small Indian Ocean island nation, the Seychelles has taken a similar approach to Mauritius and attempted to set itself up as a hub for investment and administration to complement its tourism business. The country has attracted an unfortunate reputation as a tax haven, and has prioritised the need to trade across borders and resolve disputes.

Doing Business World Rank: 95
Days to start a business: 32
Days to get electricity: 137
Days to register property: 33
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Although Morocco did not experience the same political upheaval as other North African economies during the 'Arab Spring' revolutions in 2010-12, the country felt many of the same social pressures of unemployment and economic inequality. The government has responded with reforms to the business environment, aimed at making it easier to start and grow enterprises. <br /><br /><strong>Doing Business World Rank: 75</strong><br /><strong>Days to start a business: 10</strong><br /><strong>Days to get electricity: 57</strong><br /><strong>Days to register property: 30</strong>
Photos: The Top 10 countries to start a business in Africa
6. Morocco – Although Morocco did not experience the same political upheaval as other North African economies during the 'Arab Spring' revolutions in 2010-12, the country felt many of the same social pressures of unemployment and economic inequality. The government has responded with reforms to the business environment, aimed at making it easier to start and grow enterprises.

Doing Business World Rank: 75
Days to start a business: 10
Days to get electricity: 57
Days to register property: 30
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Before the turmoil of the 'Arab Spring', Tunisia had been building a modern economy, working to attract high technology manufacturing and outsourcing from Europe. The country's revolution, which unseated the autocratic regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, led to a brief upheaval in the economy. Now the dust has settled, the young, highly-educated population that took to the streets to demand change is once again the country's greatest economic resource.<br /><br /><strong>Doing Business World Rank: 74</strong><br /><strong>Days to start a business: 11</strong><br /><strong>Days to get electricity: 65</strong><br /><strong>Days to register property: 39</strong>
Photos: The Top 10 countries to start a business in Africa
5. Tunisia – Before the turmoil of the 'Arab Spring', Tunisia had been building a modern economy, working to attract high technology manufacturing and outsourcing from Europe. The country's revolution, which unseated the autocratic regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, led to a brief upheaval in the economy. Now the dust has settled, the young, highly-educated population that took to the streets to demand change is once again the country's greatest economic resource.

Doing Business World Rank: 74
Days to start a business: 11
Days to get electricity: 65
Days to register property: 39
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