The “Doing Business 2019” report, published by the World Bank on October 31, 2018, ranked Jordan 104th out of 190, on the ‘Ease of doing business’ Index, making Jordan fall behind one rank compared to last year.

The annual report measures the factors that enhance and that constrain business activity in small and medium-size companies around the globe based on ten quantitative indicators, throughout companies’ life cycles.

Ranked first in the ‘Ease of doing business’ index is New Zealand; followed by: Singapore, Denmark, Honk Kong SAR (China), Korea Republic, Georgia, Norway, and the United States.

The UK ranked 8, the UAE 11, China 46, Israel 49, Qatar 83, Saudi Arabia 92, Syria 107, Egypt 120, Iraq 171; with somalia ranking 190 as most difficult country to do business in.

According to the report, Jordan’s performance showed a decline in six indicators compared to last year: Starting a business, Dealing with construction permits, Getting electricity, Protecting minority, investors, Trading across borders, and Resolving insolvency.

However, Jordan showed growth in three indicators: Paying taxes, Getting credit, and Enforcing contracts; and with no change in the Registering property index.

Read more: Economy Profile of Jordan (World Bank Report)