An Enterprise Survey is a firm-level survey of a representative sample of an economy’s private sector. The surveys cover a broad range of business environment topics including access to finance, corruption, infrastructure, crime, competition, and performance measures. Since 2005-06, nearly all data collection efforts have been centralized within the Enterprise Analysis Unit, where a Global Methodology was developed and applied ever since. To date, over 135,000 interviews in 139 countries have taken place under the Global Methodology. More detailed information about the Enterprise Surveys can be found on the Methodology page. Surveys that deviate from this Global Methodology or were conducted prior to 2005 are available, along with all other raw data, on their portal.

The World Bank’s Enterprise Analysis Unit is a team of economists and firm-level survey experts that both 1) conducts Enterprise Surveys and 2) draws upon this wealth of firm-level data from developing countries to produce research on the micro-economic foundations of growth. Their findings and recommendations are helping policy makers identify, prioritize and implement reforms of policies and institutions that support efficient private economic activity. Key research topics of the unit include firm performance and job creation, legal gender parity for entrepreneurs and workers, informality, and export performance.