Botswana Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Botswana's rule of law was 0.42 in 2025, ranked 75th globally. This represents a 7.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Botswana's rule of law stood at 0.42 in 2025, a rise of +0.03 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.42 by 2025. Botswana ranked 75th globally.
Botswana's Rule of Law indicator, as measured by the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), has experienced fluctuations over the past 26 years. The country's all-time peak of 0.67 in 2003 suggests a period of relative stability, whereas the all-time trough of 0.36 in 2017 indicates a decline in the perceived effectiveness of the legal system. Since then, Botswana's score has rebounded to 0.42 in 2025, still ranking it 75th globally. Notably, this level of performance is comparable to that of Hungary, which ranked 78th with a score of 0.38 in 2025. Romania, another peer country, posted a score of 0.43 in 2025, positioning itself slightly above Botswana. This trend indicates a moderate improvement in Botswana's Rule of Law, although it still lags behind other countries in the region. A continued commitment to strengthening institutions and the justice system would likely be crucial in further improving Botswana's score and solidifying its position in the global rankings.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.42 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.42 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.42 | +0.03 | #75 |
| 2023 | 0.39 | −0.07 | #77 |
| 2022 | 0.46 | +0.01 | #69 |
| 2021 | 0.45 | +0.07 | #67 |
| 2020 | 0.38 | −0.05 | #72 |
| 2019 | 0.43 | +0.05 | #70 |
| 2018 | 0.38 | +0.02 | #70 |
| 2017 | 0.36 | −0.02 | #73 |
| 2016 | 0.38 | −0.10 | #73 |
| 2015 | 0.48 | −0.06 | #64 |
| 2014 | 0.54 | +0.04 | #56 |
| 2013 | 0.49 | −0.10 | #67 |
| 2012 | 0.59 | −0.01 | #63 |
| 2011 | 0.60 | +0.00 | #63 |
| 2010 | 0.60 | +0.01 | #63 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Botswana matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Botswana's rule of law was 0.42 in 2025. Ranked 75th globally. This represents a 7.7% increase from the previous year.
Botswana's rule of law peaked at 0.67 in 2003.
The lowest rule of law in Botswana was 0.36 in 2017.
Botswana ranks 75th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Botswana's rule of law is projected to reach 0.42 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Botswana in 2025 was 0.42. This ranks 75th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_botswana_rule-of-law,
title = {Botswana Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/botswana/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}