Lebanon Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Lebanon's rule of law was -1.35 in 2025, ranked 181st globally. This represents a 16.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Lebanon's rule of law stood at -1.35 in 2025, a decline of +0.19 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -1.35 by 2025. Lebanon ranked 181st globally.
Lebanon’s Rule of Law score has deteriorated sharply over the 26‑year series, slipping from a modest –0.28 in 1996 to an all‑time trough of –1.35 in 2025, the lowest figure recorded in the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators and placing the country at rank 181 globally. The brief improvement around the 2000 peak of –0.17 was quickly erased by successive crises, and the latest –1.35 mirrors the scores of peers such as Kyrgyz Republic (–1.34) and Nicaragua (–1.38), underscoring a regional pattern of weak judicial independence, limited enforcement of contracts and pervasive corruption. The downward trajectory reflects Lebanon’s prolonged political stalemate, fiscal collapse and the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which together have eroded institutional capacity and public confidence in the legal system. Unless comprehensive reforms strengthen judicial accountability, improve legislative clarity and restore macro‑economic stability, the Rule of Law indicator is likely to remain entrenched in the low‑negative range.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -1.43 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -1.35 | - | - |
| 2025 | -1.35 | −0.19 | #181 |
| 2023 | -1.17 | −0.06 | #176 |
| 2022 | -1.10 | −0.01 | #175 |
| 2021 | -1.09 | −0.19 | #173 |
| 2020 | -0.91 | −0.05 | #164 |
| 2019 | -0.85 | −0.07 | #158 |
| 2018 | -0.78 | +0.03 | #156 |
| 2017 | -0.81 | +0.00 | #158 |
| 2016 | -0.81 | −0.00 | #158 |
| 2015 | -0.81 | −0.09 | #155 |
| 2014 | -0.72 | +0.01 | #146 |
| 2013 | -0.73 | −0.03 | #147 |
| 2012 | -0.70 | −0.07 | #142 |
| 2011 | -0.63 | +0.01 | #140 |
| 2010 | -0.64 | −0.03 | #139 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lebanon matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lebanon's rule of law was -1.35 in 2025. Ranked 181st globally. This represents a 16.1% decrease from the previous year.
Lebanon's rule of law peaked at -0.17 in 2000.
The lowest rule of law in Lebanon was -1.35 in 2025.
Lebanon ranks 181st globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Lebanon's rule of law is projected to reach -1.35 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Lebanon in 2025 was -1.35. This ranks 181st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lebanon_rule-of-law,
title = {Lebanon Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lebanon/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}