Gabon Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Gabon's rule of law was -0.92 in 2025, ranked 160th globally. This represents a 5.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Gabon's rule of law stood at -0.92 in 2025, a decline of +0.05 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.92 by 2025. Gabon ranked 160th globally.
Gabon’s Rule of Law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has slipped from a modest -0.65 in 1996 to a pronounced -0.92 in 2025, placing it 160th out of 193 economies. The index reached its highest level of -0.18 in 2000, suggesting a brief period of relative institutional strength, before a steady decline that culminated in the current trough. Over the 26‑year coverage, the downward trajectory has outpaced many peers; for example, Nigeria records -0.88 and Madagascar -0.94, while Liberia sits slightly lower at -0.96. The persistent weakening reflects challenges in judicial independence, law enforcement effectiveness, and the protection of property rights, which together erode investor confidence and hamper economic diversification. If reforms that reinforce judicial capacity, curb corruption, and improve regulatory transparency are implemented, the negative trend could be arrested and the country might begin to close the gap with its regional counterparts.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.96 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.92 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.92 | −0.05 | #160 |
| 2023 | -0.87 | −0.05 | #160 |
| 2022 | -0.82 | −0.12 | #155 |
| 2021 | -0.71 | −0.03 | #152 |
| 2020 | -0.68 | +0.08 | #148 |
| 2019 | -0.76 | −0.04 | #153 |
| 2018 | -0.72 | +0.00 | #153 |
| 2017 | -0.72 | −0.11 | #151 |
| 2016 | -0.61 | −0.05 | #140 |
| 2015 | -0.56 | −0.09 | #136 |
| 2014 | -0.47 | +0.05 | #126 |
| 2013 | -0.52 | −0.11 | #125 |
| 2012 | -0.41 | −0.01 | #116 |
| 2011 | -0.40 | +0.06 | #115 |
| 2010 | -0.46 | +0.04 | #122 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Gabon matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2013. 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
Gabon's rule of law was -0.92 in 2025. Ranked 160th globally. This represents a 5.3% decrease from the previous year.
Gabon's rule of law peaked at -0.18 in 2000.
The lowest rule of law in Gabon was -0.92 in 2025.
Gabon ranks 160th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Gabon's rule of law is projected to reach -0.92 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Gabon in 2025 was -0.92. This ranks 160th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_gabon_rule-of-law,
title = {Gabon Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/gabon/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}