Eritrea Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Eritrea's rule of law was -1.87 in 2025, ranked 198th globally. This represents a 5.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Eritrea's rule of law stood at -1.87 in 2025, a decline of +0.10 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -1.87 by 2025. Eritrea ranked 198th globally.
Eritrea’s rule‑of‑law score has deteriorated markedly since the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators began tracking the dimension in 1996, falling from –0.66 in the earliest year to a trough of –1.87 in 2025, the lowest value recorded over the 26‑year series. The all‑time peak of –0.63 occurred in 1998, after which the index entered a steady decline, reaching –1.78 in Libya, –1.88 in Yemen, and –1.75 in Sudan as regional comparators, while Myanmar posted a slightly worse –1.94. The 2025 figure places Eritrea at 198th out of 199 economies, underscoring a persistent erosion of legal accountability, judicial independence, and contract enforcement. The downward trajectory reflects continued constraints on civil liberties, limited checks on executive power, and weak institutional capacity. Reversing this trend will likely require substantive legal reforms, greater judicial autonomy, and sustained engagement with international governance frameworks to improve the rule‑of‑law environment.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -1.92 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -1.87 | - | - |
| 2025 | -1.87 | −0.10 | #198 |
| 2023 | -1.76 | +0.01 | #198 |
| 2022 | -1.77 | −0.19 | #198 |
| 2021 | -1.58 | −0.09 | #193 |
| 2020 | -1.49 | +0.14 | #193 |
| 2019 | -1.63 | −0.01 | #193 |
| 2018 | -1.62 | −0.03 | #193 |
| 2017 | -1.59 | +0.07 | #194 |
| 2016 | -1.66 | −0.14 | #195 |
| 2015 | -1.53 | +0.04 | #197 |
| 2014 | -1.57 | −0.14 | #197 |
| 2013 | -1.43 | −0.01 | #195 |
| 2012 | -1.43 | −0.06 | #195 |
| 2011 | -1.36 | −0.01 | #191 |
| 2010 | -1.35 | −0.04 | #190 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eritrea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. 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
Eritrea's rule of law was -1.87 in 2025. Ranked 198th globally. This represents a 5.9% decrease from the previous year.
Eritrea's rule of law peaked at -0.63 in 1998.
The lowest rule of law in Eritrea was -1.87 in 2025.
Eritrea ranks 198th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Eritrea's rule of law is projected to reach -1.87 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Eritrea in 2025 was -1.87. This ranks 198th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eritrea_rule-of-law,
title = {Eritrea Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eritrea/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}