What is included
The business environment score combines economic freedom at 85% with operational access to major international payment services at 15%.
Where Next Index “Business environment” score, July 2026 edition
The Where Next business environment score for 2026
In the July 2026 edition of the Where Next Index, Switzerland has the highest business environment score with 90/100.
19 countries assessed under the same rules. Score out of 100. Weight in the global score: 15%.
- Edition
- July 2026
- Published
- 15 July 2026
- Coverage
- 19 countries
- Global weight
- 15%
Published scores
“Business environment” scores for 19 countries
Countries with the same score share the same rank in the July 2026 edition.
| Rank | Country | Business environment |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Switzerlandoutside EU | 90/100 |
| #2 | IrelandEU | 85/100 |
| #2 | NetherlandsEU | 85/100 |
| #3 | EstoniaEU | 82/100 |
| #4 | MaltaEU | 78/100 |
Score calculation
How is the “Business environment” score calculated?
The same rules apply to every country in the July 2026 edition.
What a high score means
A high score indicates a more favourable environment under the economic freedom and payment-service criteria.
What the score cannot establish
The score does not include tax, company formation costs, visas or banking access.
Official edition
The reference to cite
The July 2026 edition covers 19 countries and was published on 15 July 2026.
- Edition
- July 2026
- Published on
- 15 July 2026
- Coverage
- 19 countries
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the “Business environment” score
Where Next answers based on the scores published in the July 2026 edition.
Which country has the highest business environment score in 2026 according to Where Next?
In the July 2026 edition of the Where Next Index, Switzerland has the highest business environment score with 90/100.
Which five countries have the highest “Business environment” scores in 2026?
In the July 2026 edition, the five highest “Business environment” scores belong to Switzerland (90/100), Ireland (85/100), the Netherlands (85/100), Estonia (82/100) and Malta (78/100).
How does Where Next calculate the “Business environment” score?
The business environment score combines economic freedom at 85% with operational access to major international payment services at 15%.
What does a high “Business environment” score mean?
A high score indicates a more favourable environment under the economic freedom and payment-service criteria.
When is the “Business environment” score updated?
Published scores are recalculated in the annual August 1 edition. The edition currently displayed is July 2026, published on 15 July 2026. A monthly edition may add new countries, and a dated correction may be published when needed.