Madagascar Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Madagascar's rule of law was -0.94 in 2025, ranked 161st globally. This represents a 3.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Madagascar's rule of law stood at -0.94 in 2025, a rise of +0.04 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.94 by 2025. Madagascar ranked 161st globally.
Madagascar's Rule of Law index has experienced fluctuations over the past 26 years, with a notable decline in recent years. The country's score has dropped to -0.94 as of 2025, ranking it #161 globally. This represents a significant deterioration from its all-time peak of -0.19 in 2000 and is only slightly better than its all-time trough of -1.01 in 2019. In comparison, peer countries such as Gabon (-0.92) and Liberia (-0.96) have also struggled with Rule of Law issues, but Nigeria (-0.88) and Cameroon (-0.97) have fared slightly better. The persistent challenges to the Rule of Law in Madagascar are likely to hinder economic development and stability. A sustained commitment to strengthening institutions and the judiciary could help to improve the country's score, but a reversal of the current trend will require concerted efforts from the government and civil society.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.94 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.94 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.94 | +0.04 | #161 |
| 2023 | -0.97 | −0.02 | #164 |
| 2022 | -0.95 | −0.06 | #165 |
| 2021 | -0.89 | −0.01 | #161 |
| 2020 | -0.88 | +0.13 | #161 |
| 2019 | -1.01 | −0.18 | #171 |
| 2018 | -0.84 | +0.04 | #161 |
| 2017 | -0.88 | −0.04 | #162 |
| 2016 | -0.83 | −0.13 | #163 |
| 2015 | -0.71 | +0.03 | #144 |
| 2014 | -0.74 | +0.18 | #147 |
| 2013 | -0.92 | +0.01 | #165 |
| 2012 | -0.93 | −0.03 | #164 |
| 2011 | -0.89 | −0.02 | #160 |
| 2010 | -0.88 | −0.15 | #158 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Madagascar matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2016. 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
Madagascar's rule of law was -0.94 in 2025. Ranked 161st globally. This represents a 3.8% increase from the previous year.
Madagascar's rule of law peaked at -0.19 in 2000.
The lowest rule of law in Madagascar was -1.01 in 2019.
Madagascar ranks 161st globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Madagascar's rule of law is projected to reach -0.94 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Madagascar in 2025 was -0.94. This ranks 161st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_madagascar_rule-of-law,
title = {Madagascar Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/madagascar/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}