Workers at DIKAM garment factory in Kigali, Rwanda. (Photo: Titus Manzi/The New Times)

According to the World Bank’s B‑READY 2025 report, Rwanda scored 71.47 points in operational efficiency, placing it alongside high-income countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom.

The ranking highlights Rwanda’s success in fostering a business-friendly environment, attracting investment, and driving economic growth.

Morocco ranks second overall but leads Africa in regulatory frameworks, achieving a score of 70.06. The score reflects its strong legal and policy structures that support business creation and market competition.

Mauritius also performs strongly, ranking in the top three quintiles for both operational efficiency and public service delivery.

Other African economies showing notable progress include Ghana, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Togo, Mali, and Botswana, all of which rank in the third quintile globally for either regulatory quality or operational efficiency.

However, the report notes that public service delivery remains a common challenge across the continent. Many African countries continue to lag behind global peers in operational efficiency and public services—areas closely linked to GDP per capita.

The report draws on insights from nearly 5,000 local respondents, including legal experts and sector specialists, evaluating 101 economies globally across three pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency. Nations are grouped into quintiles, with the first quintile representing top performers worldwide.

Among African countries, most rank in the third quintile, with Rwanda as the continent’s only first-quintile performer.

The World Bank observes that economies facing the greatest need to create more and better jobs are often the least business-ready.

“Young workforce economies, which are expected to face a significant influx of new workforce entrants, generally lack the supportive business environment necessary to deal with this surge,” the lender said.

It adds that worldwide, economies find it harder to provide public services that support businesses than to enact laws and regulations, resulting in a persistent public services gap.