Afghanistan Regulatory Quality
Regulatory Quality RQ.EST
Afghanistan's regulatory quality was -1.35 in 2025, ranked 183rd globally. This represents a 6.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Afghanistan's regulatory quality stood at -1.35 in 2025, a decline of +0.08 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -1.35 by 2025. Afghanistan ranked 183rd globally.
Afghanistan's regulatory quality has been a persistent challenge, with its latest score of -1.35 in 2025 ranking it 183rd globally. This is slightly above its all-time trough of -2.09 in 1996, but still below its peak of -1.02 achieved in 2015. Compared to its peers, Afghanistan's score is marginally better than Equatorial Guinea's -1.36, but lags behind Zimbabwe's -1.29. The country's regulatory environment has faced significant disruptions, particularly during periods of conflict. As Afghanistan continues to navigate its complex political and economic landscape, a sustained improvement in regulatory quality will be crucial for attracting investment and driving growth. Moving forward, a significant shift in the country's institutional framework and governance structures would be necessary to alter the trajectory of its regulatory quality trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Regulatory Quality | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -1.36 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -1.35 | - | - |
| 2025 | -1.35 | −0.08 | #183 |
| 2023 | -1.27 | +0.01 | #184 |
| 2022 | -1.27 | +0.04 | #185 |
| 2021 | -1.31 | +0.08 | #187 |
| 2020 | -1.39 | −0.28 | #187 |
| 2019 | -1.11 | +0.02 | #182 |
| 2018 | -1.14 | +0.22 | #182 |
| 2017 | -1.36 | −0.02 | #189 |
| 2016 | -1.34 | −0.32 | #189 |
| 2015 | -1.02 | +0.11 | #176 |
| 2014 | -1.12 | +0.07 | #179 |
| 2013 | -1.19 | −0.00 | #180 |
| 2012 | -1.19 | +0.34 | #180 |
| 2011 | -1.54 | −0.02 | #192 |
| 2010 | -1.52 | +0.15 | #189 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Afghanistan matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2022. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw regulatory quality improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Afghanistan's regulatory quality was -1.35 in 2025. Ranked 183rd globally. This represents a 6.3% decrease from the previous year.
Afghanistan's regulatory quality peaked at -1.02 in 2015.
The lowest regulatory quality in Afghanistan was -2.09 in 1996.
Afghanistan ranks 183rd globally in regulatory quality as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RQ.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Afghanistan's regulatory quality is projected to reach -1.35 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The regulatory quality of Afghanistan in 2025 was -1.35. This ranks 183rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_afghanistan_regulatory-quality,
title = {Afghanistan Regulatory Quality},
url = {https://historysaid.com/afghanistan/regulatory-quality/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}