Iran, Islamic Republic of Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Iran, Islamic Republic of's rule of law was -1.22 in 2025, ranked 177th globally. This represents a 15.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Iran, Islamic Republic of's rule of law stood at -1.22 in 2025, a decline of +0.16 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -1.22 by 2025. Iran, Islamic Republic of ranked 177th globally.
Iran’s rule‑of‑law score has slipped from a modest -0.94 in 1996 to an all‑time trough of -1.22 in 2025, placing the country at rank 177 out of 190 economies in the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators. The index peaked at -0.52 in 2000, suggesting a relatively more functional legal environment at the turn of the millennium, before a gradual erosion that accelerated after 2010. Over the 26‑year coverage period the downward trajectory has been steeper than that of peer Tajikistan, whose 2025 score stands at -1.27, and comparable to Zimbabwe and Djibouti, both also registering -1.22. The persistent decline reflects chronic challenges such as limited judicial independence, weak enforcement of contracts and pervasive corruption, which deter both domestic investment and foreign capital inflows. Unless substantive reforms strengthen institutional checks, improve transparency and enhance the predictability of legal outcomes, Iran’s rule‑of‑law indicator is likely to remain entrenched at the lower end of the global distribution.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -1.30 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -1.22 | - | - |
| 2025 | -1.22 | −0.16 | #177 |
| 2023 | -1.06 | −0.04 | #170 |
| 2022 | -1.02 | −0.05 | #168 |
| 2021 | -0.97 | −0.08 | #167 |
| 2020 | -0.89 | −0.12 | #163 |
| 2019 | -0.77 | −0.06 | #155 |
| 2018 | -0.71 | −0.01 | #151 |
| 2017 | -0.70 | −0.01 | #148 |
| 2016 | -0.70 | +0.24 | #150 |
| 2015 | -0.94 | +0.11 | #167 |
| 2014 | -1.05 | −0.06 | #175 |
| 2013 | -1.00 | −0.08 | #169 |
| 2012 | -0.92 | +0.05 | #162 |
| 2011 | -0.97 | +0.06 | #167 |
| 2010 | -1.03 | +0.03 | #171 |
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 rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iran, Islamic Republic of's rule of law was -1.22 in 2025. Ranked 177th globally. This represents a 15.4% decrease from the previous year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's rule of law peaked at -0.52 in 2000.
The lowest rule of law in Iran, Islamic Republic of was -1.22 in 2025.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 177th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's rule of law is projected to reach -1.22 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Iran, Islamic Republic of in 2025 was -1.22. This ranks 177th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iran-islamic-republic-of_rule-of-law,
title = {Iran, Islamic Republic of Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iran-islamic-republic-of/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}