Iran, Islamic Republic of Government Effectiveness
Government Effectiveness GE.EST
Iran, Islamic Republic of's government effectiveness was -1.17 in 2025, ranked 174th globally. This represents a 14.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Iran, Islamic Republic of's government effectiveness stood at -1.17 in 2025, a decline of +0.14 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -1.17 by 2025. Iran, Islamic Republic of ranked 174th globally.
Iran’s Government Effectiveness score has deteriorated markedly over the 26‑year series, slipping from –0.60 in 1996 to a historic low of –1.17 in 2025, the worst reading among the 174 economies tracked by the World Bank. The indicator peaked at –0.24 in 2016, suggesting a brief period of relatively better public service delivery and policy formulation before a steep decline set in. By 2025 Iran ranks alongside Sierra Leone (–1.17) and just above the Russian Federation (–1.16), reflecting pervasive challenges in bureaucratic quality, regulatory enforcement and the credibility of government actions. The persistent slide signals weakening institutional capacity, compounded by sanctions, fiscal pressures and political volatility that have eroded the effectiveness of state institutions. If reforms that improve transparency, strengthen merit‑based recruitment and enhance inter‑agency coordination are implemented, the downward trajectory could be halted and a modest recovery in government effectiveness may emerge in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Effectiveness | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -1.24 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -1.17 | - | - |
| 2025 | -1.17 | −0.14 | #174 |
| 2023 | -1.02 | −0.14 | #174 |
| 2022 | -0.88 | +0.00 | #165 |
| 2021 | -0.89 | +0.13 | #168 |
| 2020 | -1.02 | −0.42 | #174 |
| 2019 | -0.60 | −0.12 | #138 |
| 2018 | -0.48 | −0.24 | #130 |
| 2017 | -0.24 | −0.00 | #114 |
| 2016 | -0.24 | +0.02 | #113 |
| 2015 | -0.25 | +0.19 | #109 |
| 2014 | -0.44 | +0.25 | #126 |
| 2013 | -0.69 | −0.15 | #143 |
| 2012 | -0.54 | −0.09 | #130 |
| 2011 | -0.45 | +0.05 | #118 |
| 2010 | -0.50 | +0.08 | #125 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2019. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw government effectiveness improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iran, Islamic Republic of's government effectiveness was -1.17 in 2025. Ranked 174th globally. This represents a 14.1% decrease from the previous year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's government effectiveness peaked at -0.24 in 2016.
The lowest government effectiveness in Iran, Islamic Republic of was -1.17 in 2025.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 174th globally in government effectiveness as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GE.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's government effectiveness is projected to reach -1.17 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The government effectiveness of Iran, Islamic Republic of in 2025 was -1.17. This ranks 174th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iran-islamic-republic-of_government-effectiveness,
title = {Iran, Islamic Republic of Government Effectiveness},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iran-islamic-republic-of/government-effectiveness/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}