According to the 2008-2009 Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) published by the World Economic Forum, Portugal occupies the 43rd position in the Global Competitiveness Index of the134 countries investigated. In the context of the EU27, Portugal overcame Lithuania but was passed by Cyprus, thus maintaining the 17th position it occupied in the previous edition, being ahead of countries like Italy or Greece.
Among all 134 countries Portugal occupies the 9th position regarding the time required to start a business and the 5th concerning the Trade-weighted tariff rate. Portugal as well occupies the 11th rank in mobile phone subscriptions and the 22nd in terms of investment in the educational sector.