Burundi Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Burundi's rule of law was -1.14 in 2025, ranked 174th globally. This represents a 8.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Burundi's rule of law stood at -1.14 in 2025, a rise of +0.11 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -1.14 by 2025. Burundi ranked 174th globally.
Burundi’s Rule of Law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has modestly improved since the all‑time trough of –1.57 in 2000, rising to –0.97 at its 2014 peak, before slipping to –1.14 in 2025, placing the country 174th out of 193 economies. The 26‑year series shows a gradual upward trend in the early 2000s, likely reflecting post‑conflict reforms, yet the recent decline suggests persistent challenges in judicial independence, contract enforcement and corruption control. Compared with peers, Burundi’s 2025 score is marginally worse than Angola (–1.10) and similar to Djibouti (–1.22), indicating that its legal environment remains less robust than other low‑income states in the region. The modest rebound after 2000 demonstrates that policy interventions can shift the trajectory, but sustaining progress will require consistent investment in institutional capacity, transparent legal processes and anti‑corruption measures to reverse the recent downturn.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -1.09 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -1.14 | - | - |
| 2025 | -1.14 | +0.11 | #174 |
| 2023 | -1.25 | +0.03 | #181 |
| 2022 | -1.28 | +0.04 | #183 |
| 2021 | -1.31 | +0.03 | #187 |
| 2020 | -1.34 | +0.11 | #190 |
| 2019 | -1.45 | +0.06 | #192 |
| 2018 | -1.51 | −0.10 | #192 |
| 2017 | -1.41 | +0.07 | #190 |
| 2016 | -1.48 | −0.30 | #190 |
| 2015 | -1.19 | −0.22 | #183 |
| 2014 | -0.97 | +0.11 | #171 |
| 2013 | -1.08 | +0.01 | #174 |
| 2012 | -1.08 | +0.07 | #176 |
| 2011 | -1.15 | +0.05 | #178 |
| 2010 | -1.21 | −0.05 | #181 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Burundi matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2023. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Burundi's rule of law was -1.14 in 2025. Ranked 174th globally. This represents a 8.9% increase from the previous year.
Burundi's rule of law peaked at -0.97 in 2014.
The lowest rule of law in Burundi was -1.57 in 2000.
Burundi ranks 174th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Burundi's rule of law is projected to reach -1.14 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Burundi in 2025 was -1.14. This ranks 174th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_burundi_rule-of-law,
title = {Burundi Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/burundi/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}