Guatemala Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Guatemala's rule of law was -1.09 in 2025, ranked 171st globally. This represents a 1.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Guatemala's rule of law stood at -1.09 in 2025, a decline of +0.02 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -1.09 by 2025. Guatemala ranked 171st globally.
Guatemala’s Rule of Law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators stands at –1.09 in 2025, placing the country 171st out of 193 economies and signalling persistent challenges in judicial independence, contract enforcement and protection against corruption. The indicator has covered 26 years, moving from an early low of –1.13 in 1996 to its best performance of –0.89 in 2000, before slipping back to the all‑time trough of –1.13 in 2022. Compared with regional peers, Honduras records a slightly better score of –1.10 and Mali a marginally higher –1.04, underscoring that Guatemala lags behind even countries with comparable institutional constraints. The modest improvement around the turn of the millennium coincided with democratic consolidation, yet the recent decline reflects renewed political volatility and weak enforcement mechanisms. Strengthening judicial capacity, enhancing transparency in public procurement and sustaining anti‑corruption reforms could reverse the downward trajectory and gradually lift Guatemala’s Rule of Law rating in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -1.09 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -1.09 | - | - |
| 2025 | -1.09 | −0.02 | #171 |
| 2023 | -1.08 | +0.05 | #171 |
| 2022 | -1.13 | −0.02 | #176 |
| 2021 | -1.11 | −0.01 | #176 |
| 2020 | -1.10 | +0.00 | #176 |
| 2019 | -1.10 | −0.02 | #177 |
| 2018 | -1.08 | +0.00 | #175 |
| 2017 | -1.08 | −0.05 | #177 |
| 2016 | -1.03 | −0.08 | #172 |
| 2015 | -0.95 | +0.00 | #171 |
| 2014 | -0.96 | +0.14 | #170 |
| 2013 | -1.09 | −0.01 | #175 |
| 2012 | -1.08 | −0.05 | #175 |
| 2011 | -1.03 | −0.09 | #171 |
| 2010 | -0.94 | +0.07 | #163 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guatemala matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. 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
Guatemala's rule of law was -1.09 in 2025. Ranked 171st globally. This represents a 1.7% decrease from the previous year.
Guatemala's rule of law peaked at -0.89 in 2000.
The lowest rule of law in Guatemala was -1.13 in 2022.
Guatemala ranks 171st globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Guatemala's rule of law is projected to reach -1.09 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Guatemala in 2025 was -1.09. This ranks 171st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guatemala_rule-of-law,
title = {Guatemala Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guatemala/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}