Dominican Republic Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Dominican Republic's rule of law was 0.02 in 2025, ranked 96th globally. This represents a 114.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Dominican Republic's rule of law stood at 0.02 in 2025, a rise of +0.15 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.02 by 2025. Dominican Republic ranked 96th globally.
The Dominican Republic’s Rule of Law index, measured by the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, has risen from a low of –0.52 in 1996 to a modest 0.02 in 2025, placing the country 96th globally and matching its all‑time peak in the same year. This improvement follows a pronounced trough of –0.86 in 2010, suggesting that reforms in the judicial sector and anti‑corruption initiatives of the early 2010s have begun to bear fruit. Over the 26‑year coverage period the trajectory remains modest compared with peers such as Albania, which recorded 0.01, and Georgia, which scored 0.11, indicating that the Dominican Republic still lags behind the more advanced rule‑of‑law environments of those nations. Continued investment in legal infrastructure, transparent procurement and capacity building for courts could further elevate the index, potentially shifting the upward trend beyond the current plateau.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.06 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.02 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.02 | +0.15 | #96 |
| 2023 | -0.13 | −0.04 | #105 |
| 2022 | -0.09 | +0.02 | #99 |
| 2021 | -0.12 | +0.05 | #103 |
| 2020 | -0.17 | +0.15 | #105 |
| 2019 | -0.32 | +0.04 | #114 |
| 2018 | -0.37 | +0.06 | #120 |
| 2017 | -0.43 | −0.03 | #126 |
| 2016 | -0.39 | +0.14 | #126 |
| 2015 | -0.53 | −0.15 | #131 |
| 2014 | -0.38 | +0.15 | #117 |
| 2013 | -0.53 | +0.18 | #130 |
| 2012 | -0.72 | +0.09 | #144 |
| 2011 | -0.81 | +0.05 | #152 |
| 2010 | -0.86 | −0.05 | #155 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Dominican Republic matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2004. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Dominican Republic's rule of law was 0.02 in 2025. Ranked 96th globally. This represents a 114.4% increase from the previous year.
Dominican Republic's rule of law peaked at 0.02 in 2025.
The lowest rule of law in Dominican Republic was -0.86 in 2010.
Dominican Republic ranks 96th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Dominican Republic's rule of law is projected to reach 0.02 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Dominican Republic in 2025 was 0.02. This ranks 96th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_dominican-republic_rule-of-law,
title = {Dominican Republic Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/dominican-republic/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}