Hong Kong and the Netherlands among the 10 easiest jurisdictions to do business in, says the 2026 GBCI; Greece, Mexico and Brazil rank most complex
TMF Group, a leading provider of compliance and administrative services, today launches the 13th edition of the Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI).
The annual study finds that the most complex jurisdictions are characterised by frequent regulatory change, a heavy administrative burden and still evolving digital requirements. The least complex jurisdictions benefit from streamlined and stable regulation, solid digital infrastructure and clear compliance pathways.
The report analyses 81 jurisdictions, representing over 90% of the world’s economy. It compares 292 indicators per jurisdiction. Those indicators cover the key procedural aspects of doing business in each jurisdiction covering the accounting, legal and employment burden that firms face. While many factors contribute to the overall attractiveness of a jurisdiction, the GBCI captures the dead-weight cost of rules that suppress growth, whether from local businesses or international investors.
This year’s study finds that Denmark, Hong Kong SAR, and the Netherlands are among the top 10 easiest jurisdictions for doing business. The UK and the US rank as 12th and 13th-least complex jurisdictions, respectively. These jurisdictions have historically been ranked as low complexity given their stable, simple regulatory environments and the robust digital infrastructure supporting them.
At the other end of the spectrum, Greece ranks as the most complex jurisdiction in the world for the third consecutive year, mainly due to frequent legislative changes and ongoing regulatory reforms. Mexico is the second most complex, also driven by frequent regulatory changes, unpredictable administrative requirements, evolving digital requirements and unclear expectations by tax authorities. Brazil ranks as the third most complex, with a multi-layered tax system and frequent regulatory changes and heavy compliance demands, alongside inconsistent rules at federal, state and municipal levels.
Top and bottom ten (1= most complex, 81= least complex)
| 1. Greece | 72. Curacao |
| 2. Mexico | 73. Malta |
| 3. Brazil | 74. British Virgin Islands |
| 4. France | 75. Czech Republic |
| 5. Turkey | 76. New Zealand |
| 6. Colombia | 77. The Netherlands |
| 7. Bolivia | 78. Hong Kong, SAR |
| 8. Italy | 79. Jersey |
| 9. Argentina | 70. Denmark |
| 10. Peru | 81. Cayman Islands |
Complexity drivers
The GBCI 2026 identifies key drivers of complexity across three areas: accounting and tax, employment and legal entity management.
For accounting and tax, governments are accelerating digital reporting, expanding e-invoicing mandates and advancing global tax alignment through OECD BEPS and Pillar Two. These shifts increase short-term operational demands, even as they support longer-term transparency.
Employment complexity continues to be driven by new employment legislation, pay transparency requirements and significant regional differences in labour rules, benefits and talent availability.
Legal entity management is shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, regular legislative updates and growing expectations around governance and reporting. Initiatives by the EU, such as ATAD3 and now EU Inc., have so far done little to reduce the burden of regulation in the single market.
Digitalisation continues to play a central role across all areas of business administration, with many jurisdictions reporting improvements in processing times, administrative efficiency and compliance predictability as new technologies are adopted. However, the pace and impact of digital transformation vary widely across regions.
Media Contacts
Marina Llibre Martin, Global PR Manager
marina.llibremartin@tmf-group.com
