Strada’s 2025 Global Payroll Complexity Index reveals a turning point for payroll transformation

• Global payroll complexity increased by 5%, with the top 10 countries still 31% more demanding than other ranked markets
• Seven of the ten most complex payroll markets are in Europe, underlining the region’s continued regulatory intensity
• The US enters the top 10 for the first time, reflecting rising compliance and reporting demands

THE WOODLANDS, TX – 25 November 2025 – Strada, a people, payroll, and technology leader that simplifies international workforce management, today unveils the 2025 Global Payroll Complexity Index (GPCI), the industry’s original and most trusted benchmark for global payroll complexity. Now in its seventh edition and running for over a decade, the 2025 GPCI reveals a payroll landscape that, while still highly demanding, is beginning to stabilize.

This year’s results highlight how payroll regulation is evolving worldwide, with traditionally stable markets showing increased variation with average country scores rising by 5%. Europe continues to lead in complexity, with seven of the ten most challenging payroll markets and France remaining the world’s most complex payroll market. In North America, the United States entered the top 10 for the first time, climbing eight places with a 17% increase, while Canada held steady in fifth despite a further 9% rise.

Sharp increases in complexity elsewhere underline how quickly requirements can evolve. Australia surged eight places into the global top three following a 21% rise in its score, driven by broader deduction frameworks, greater stakeholder access to payroll data and more varied payment methods.

Top 10 most complex countries for payroll (2025 GPCI):

1. France
2. Slovakia
3. Australia
4. Switzerland
5. Canada
6. United States
7. Poland
8. Czechia
9. Germany
10. Turkey

“Payroll complexity may be stabilizing, but the demands on organisations are not. This is the moment for leaders to move beyond comfortable chaos and take control of what payroll can really deliver. When technology, data and expertise come together, payroll becomes more than a process - it becomes a source of clarity, intelligence and possibility.”

Gautam Sukumar Chief Operating Officer at Strada

The Global Payroll Complexity Index (GPCI) evaluates some of the most complex countries out of nearly 200 where Strada operates payroll. It draws on insights from Strada’s global network of payroll experts, who apply deep knowledge of local legislation, cultural nuances and operational realities to help organisations run payroll efficiently and turn it into a strategic advantage.

Explore the full 2025 Global Payroll Complexity Index here:

https://news.stradaglobal.com/global-payroll-complexity-index-2025