Gambia, The Government Effectiveness

Gambia’s Government Effectiveness score, measured on the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, stood at –0.50 in 2025, placing the country 134th in the global ranking and tying it with peers such as Pakistan (–0.50) and Argentina (–0.50). The index, which aggregates perceptions of policy formulation and implementation quality, rose from a low of –0.62 in 1996 to a modest peak of –0.42 in 2003, reflecting early‑2000s reforms that modestly improved bureaucratic capacity and regulatory quality. However, the trajectory reversed sharply, reaching an all‑time trough of –0.99 in 2015 amid fiscal constraints, political instability, and weakened institutional continuity. Since that nadir, gradual recovery has lifted the score to its current level, yet the figure remains well below the median of the governance spectrum and signals persistent challenges in public service delivery and accountability. Continued investment in civil service training, transparent budgeting, and anti‑corruption mechanisms will be crucial if Gambia is to sustain upward momentum and narrow the gap with higher‑performing peers.