Liberia Regulatory Quality
Regulatory Quality RQ.EST
Liberia's regulatory quality was -0.89 in 2025, ranked 164th globally. This represents a 3.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Liberia's regulatory quality stood at -0.89 in 2025, a rise of +0.03 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.89 by 2025. Liberia ranked 164th globally.
Liberia’s Regulatory Quality score, measured on the World Bank’s governance index, stood at –0.89 in 2025, placing the country 164th in the global ranking and tying it with São Tomé and Principe while edging slightly ahead of Bangladesh (–0.90). The indicator, which reflects the government’s ability to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that promote private sector development, has improved modestly since the early 1990s; the earliest recorded score in 1996 was –1.83, and the all‑time trough of –1.86 occurred in 2004 amid post‑conflict institutional weakness. A brief uplift was seen in 2014 when the score peaked at –0.88, the highest level recorded over the 26‑year series. Despite this progress, the figure remains well below the median of the peer group, suggesting persistent regulatory constraints. Continued reforms aimed at streamlining business licensing, enhancing transparency and strengthening anti‑corruption mechanisms could help lift Liberia’s score further and narrow the gap with higher‑ranking peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Regulatory Quality | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.87 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.89 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.89 | +0.03 | #164 |
| 2023 | -0.92 | +0.06 | #166 |
| 2022 | -0.98 | −0.02 | #169 |
| 2021 | -0.96 | +0.08 | #173 |
| 2020 | -1.04 | −0.03 | #178 |
| 2019 | -1.01 | −0.02 | #178 |
| 2018 | -0.99 | −0.01 | #176 |
| 2017 | -0.98 | −0.00 | #174 |
| 2016 | -0.98 | −0.07 | #175 |
| 2015 | -0.90 | −0.02 | #166 |
| 2014 | -0.88 | +0.04 | #160 |
| 2013 | -0.92 | +0.13 | #160 |
| 2012 | -1.05 | +0.03 | #172 |
| 2011 | -1.08 | −0.04 | #176 |
| 2010 | -1.04 | +0.14 | #168 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Liberia matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw regulatory quality improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Liberia's regulatory quality was -0.89 in 2025. Ranked 164th globally. This represents a 3.4% increase from the previous year.
Liberia's regulatory quality peaked at -0.88 in 2014.
The lowest regulatory quality in Liberia was -1.86 in 2004.
Liberia ranks 164th globally in regulatory quality as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RQ.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Liberia's regulatory quality is projected to reach -0.89 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The regulatory quality of Liberia in 2025 was -0.89. This ranks 164th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_liberia_regulatory-quality,
title = {Liberia Regulatory Quality},
url = {https://historysaid.com/liberia/regulatory-quality/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}