which country has the most unicorns per capita in 2025?

Take a look at the world’s top unicorn company countries, and see why Estonia punches well above its weight

When you're thinking about where to set up your business, being around other successful startups is likely a key determining factor. One way to find these business-boosting environments is by looking at which countries produce the most unicorns – private businesses valued at more than $1 billion.

While the US inevitably leads the world in unicorns, it's not just about sheer numbers. Look for countries with high unicorns per capita, and you could land in your ideal ecosystem. In this article, we'll explore the best unicorn-producing countries and investigate why Estonia ranks so high for unicorns per capita.

What is a unicorn company?

We’re not talking about the horned mythical creature, but the very real (and perhaps no less fascinating) startup that is valued at over $1 billion. The term was coined by venture capitalist Aileen Lee in 2013 to describe the rarity of such a business.

The good news for founders in 2025 is that unicorns are getting less rare. The chances that you could start the next European unicorn are only improving as more investment and talent pour into the top unicorn-producing ecosystems.

Top countries for unicorns per capita

So, which countries top the list for unicorns per capita? Estonia has consistently ranked in the top five for years, thanks to its growing reputation as Europe’s startup powerhouse.

Here’s a look at the global top five unicorns per capita countries (H2 2021-2023):

Source: APEXE Nations Report, Startup Genome

Given Estonia’s small population, the fact that the country consistently ranks near the top of the unicorns per capita rankings each year reflects just how much of a startup incubator the country is.

Estonia has produced 10 unicorns in total, which we’ll take a closer look at shortly.

Number of unicorns by country

Looking at the total number of unicorns per country, the US and China of course lead the way. However, unless you’re already a citizen or resident in these countries, establishing yourself and your startup there can be challenging.

Here's a look at the total active unicorns by country in 2025:

Source: World Population Review

Estonian unicorn companies

Estonia’s 10 unicorns have revolutionised their industries and put Estonia on the map as a breeding ground for innovative and transformative startups.

• Skype (founded 2003, unicorn 2005): Estonia's first unicorn revolutionised global communication with its free online voice and video calls. What seems so everyday now started with a group of Estonian engineers, who sold the business to eBay for $2.6 billion in 2005. The so-called ‘Skype Mafia’ of alumni continue to drive Estonia's startup ecosystem.
  
• Playtech (founded 1999, unicorn 2007): The world's largest online gaming software supplier was founded in Tartu by Teddy Sagi. It’s now on the London Stock Exchange and has business operations in 19 countries. The company's ability to attract and retain top Estonian talent has been crucial to its sustained success.
  
• Wise (founded 2011, unicorn 2015): Formerly TransferWise, Wise made headlines around the world as it disrupted international money transfer. It’s now one of Europe's most valuable fintechs, going public in 2021 on the London Stock Exchange. Wise now offers multi-currency accounts and debit cards for borderless banking.
  
• Bolt (founded 2013, unicorn 2018): Another world-famous entrepreneur from Estonia, Markus Villig was just 19 when he set out to disrupt Tallinn's taxi system. His creation Bolt now operates ride-sharing, food delivery and scooter services across more than 40 countries in Europe, Africa and South America.
  
• Pipedrive (founded 2010, unicorn 2020): Built by salespeople for salespeople, this intuitive CRM platform serves over 100,000 organisations worldwide. Co-founded by Timo Rein, Urmas Purde, Ragnar Sass, Martin Henk and Martin Tajur, Pipedrive rejected traditional technical specs to create genuinely user-friendly sales software.
  
• Zego (founded 2016, unicorn 2021): This company revolutionised commercial vehicle insurance. Founded by Sten Saar with backing from Wise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus, Zego has provided over 17 million policies across five countries, offering flexible coverage from one hour to one year.
  
• ID.me (founded 2010, unicorn 2021): Co-founded by Estonian Tanel Suurhans in 2010, ID.me brought Estonia's digital identity expertise to the US. The platform verifies identities for government services, with millions of Americans using it for the Department of Motor Vehicles, Internal Revenue Service and state benefit programmes. 
  
• Gelato (founded 2007, unicorn 2021): A print-on-demand platform connecting e-commerce companies with over 100 production partners across 32 countries, enabling local printing close to customers. Co-founded by Estonian Mike Arbuzov, Gelato is also one of Norway's unicorns.
  
• Veriff (founded 2015, unicorn 2022): Founded by Kaarel Kotkas, Veriff provides identity verification services crucial for fintech, gaming and any business requiring trust online. Veriff's technology enables secure digital trust, helping prevent fraud while creating seamless user experiences.
  
• Glia (founded 2012, unicorn 2022): e-⁠Residency is the secret behind Estonia’s 10th unicorn. Glia became the first e-⁠resident unicorn by reimagining digital customer service with chat, voice and video capabilities. Founded by Dan Michaeli and headquartered in New York with Estonian roots, the company has powered over 10 billion customer service interactions across 12 countries.

Why Estonia has so many unicorn companies 

Estonia's remarkable unicorn production isn't accidental. Several key factors have created the perfect breeding ground for billion-dollar startups.

The ‘Skype Mafia’ effect

When Skype was sold to eBay in 2005, it created a ripple effect that transformed Estonia's entire startup ecosystem. Former founders and employees of Skype have come to be known as the ‘Skype Mafia’ in the business community, as they ploughed their expertise, wealth, and confidence back into the Estonian startup scene. For example:

• Taavet Hinrikus went on to co-found Wise 
• Jaan Tallinn became a prolific angel investor
• Sten Tamkivi, who ran Skype's Estonian office, later co-founded Teleport and now runs VC firm Plural

This cycle of successful founders supporting the next generation has become a defining feature of Estonia's ecosystem – one which ambitious founders can still tap into.

Digital-first infrastructure

Estonia has built a world-leading digital infrastructure that paves the way for modern businesses to thrive. Around 99% of Estonian citizens have a digital ID card, all government services are available online, and e-signatures are widely used and legally binding.

With its tech-savvy population and culture of innovation, the question is not if there will be another Estonian unicorn company, but when the next one will arise.

Startup-friendly business environment

Estonia makes it remarkably easy to start and run a business. In fact, the world record for the fastest time to set up a company online was set here. The tax system is straightforward and founder-friendly.

Through e-⁠Residency, entrepreneurs from anywhere can establish and manage an EU company entirely online. This low-friction environment means founders spend less time on bureaucracy and more time building.

How to start the next Estonian unicorn using e-⁠Residency 

If you want to access this extraordinary startup ecosystem, you can as an e-⁠resident. E-⁠Residency gives you access to the same advantages that helped Glia, Wise and Bolt become unicorns, and you don’t have to move to Estonia for it.

• Apply for e-⁠Residency: Applying online is quick and easy. Once approved, collect your digital ID card from a pickup location.
• Set up your Estonian company: Use your digital ID to set up an EU company online, giving you access to European markets and banking.
• Tap into the ecosystem: Join the 130,000-strong e-⁠resident community to find co-founders, connect with investors, and learn from successful Estonian entrepreneurs.
• Manage everything digitally: Run your business from anywhere using Estonia's digital infrastructure, including e-signatures, online tax filing and digital banking.

If you’re ready to join Estonia's next generation of unicorn founders, become an e-⁠resident today.