By John Lee.

Iraq has been ranked 156th out of 189 countries in the World Bank's recent Doing Business 2015 report.

Top of the list were Singapore, New Zealand and Hong Kong, with last place going to Eritrea, just behind Libya and the Central African Republic.

Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business. Ten of these areas are included in this year’s ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year’s ranking.

(Source: World Bank)