These Are the Top Countries in the World for Entrepreneurship

When it comes to defining a country’s success, it’s important to consider the innovators who are flourishing in the business world and driving change rather than simply the leaders and political parties who represent us on the international stage.

It’s these individuals who bring ideas to life, drive economic growth, and improve human welfare.

Because the entrepreneurial revolution is spreading to nearly every nook and cranny on the planet, it’s hard to say which country fosters it with the most success.

The Wharton School, BAV Consulting, and U.S. News and World Report have put together a ranking of the best countries for entrepreneurship — and the results might surprise you.

The team behind the project surveyed 16,500 people from around the world on 65 different national attributes.

It’s important to note that this ranking is based solely on public perception, not underlying economic fundamentals.

Here are the top five entrepreneur-friendly countries in the world…

1. Germany 
Germany’s thriving startup scene is one of the most unique in Europe. The creative industry in Germany is extremely vibrant; from tech to music, fashion, and design, this country attracts entrepreneurs from all over the world and is filled with people who are motivated to change the status quo. Not to mention, Germany’s growing tech startup scene makes it an attractive hunting ground for opportunity-seeking venture capitalists. Some of the biggest names in tech to call Germany home include Soundcloud, EyeEm, Delivery Hero, and Blacklane, Germany’s answer to Uber.

2. Japan
Japan is one of the most technically advanced nations in the world. Japan ranked second because of its well-developed infrastructure, educated population, skilled labour force, technological expertise, and innovative residents. Metaps, Raksul, SmartNews, Mercari, and Star Festival are some of the industry giants making a name for themselves in the tech world.

3. United States
For all its current economic woes, America remains a beacon of entrepreneurialism. The U.S. has found the transition to an entrepreneurial economy much easier than its competitors because the spirit is so deeply rooted in its history ,which is evidenced by the many successful companies that have flourished here for decades. Uber, Airbnb, and Snapchat are current standouts.

4. United Kingdom
The U.K. economy has accelerated faster than all major European countries, which is why it’s become one of the best places in the world to start a business. The tech scene is booming across the country, with thousands of startups launching each year. The UK is one of the world’s most dynamic start-up countries and has one of the most prominent start-up ecosystems in Europe. Successful startups that include Deliveroo, Funding Circle, FanDuel, and Skyscanner.

5. Canada
The Great White North might not traditionally be a country to associate successful entrepreneurship with, but a growing number of men and women are changing this. Canada is now home to a number of ‘Canadian Unicorns’ that include Shopify, Kik, Hootsuite and D2L, and the fast growing FreshBooks, Wattpad and Influitive, who have all proven themselves on the tech turf. Canada has a pool of talent that is as innovative as any in the world, and we’re proving our status as an entrepreneurial Mecca on the rise.

You can find the full ranking here.