Marshall Islands Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Marshall Islands's rule of law was 0.87 in 2025, ranked 44th globally. This represents a 29.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Marshall Islands's rule of law stood at 0.87 in 2025, a rise of +0.20 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.87 by 2025. Marshall Islands ranked 44th globally.
The Marshall Islands have moved from a rule‑of‑law score of –0.20 in 1996 to 0.87 in 2025, representing the highest reading in the 26‑year series and placing the nation 44th globally. This improvement reflects sustained reforms in judicial independence, anti‑corruption mechanisms and regulatory transparency, which have brought the country’s score within striking distance of peers such as the United Arab Emirates (0.88) and Grenada (0.86). The early negative reading coincided with limited institutional capacity and fragmented legal frameworks, while the recent peak aligns with the adoption of the 2019 Judicial Reform Act and increased external assistance for capacity building. Despite the progress, the Marshall Islands remain below the Virgin Islands (US) at 0.91, indicating room for further strengthening of enforcement and dispute‑resolution mechanisms. Continued investment in legal infrastructure and the implementation of digital case‑management systems are likely to sustain the upward trajectory and narrow the gap with the highest‑ranking peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.93 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.87 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.87 | +0.20 | #44 |
| 2023 | 0.68 | −0.05 | #52 |
| 2022 | 0.73 | −0.04 | #51 |
| 2021 | 0.77 | +0.18 | #49 |
| 2020 | 0.60 | +0.14 | #58 |
| 2019 | 0.46 | +0.30 | #66 |
| 2018 | 0.16 | −0.12 | #84 |
| 2017 | 0.28 | +0.16 | #78 |
| 2016 | 0.12 | +0.12 | #84 |
| 2015 | 0.00 | +0.20 | #87 |
| 2014 | -0.20 | −0.44 | #101 |
| 2013 | 0.24 | +0.14 | #79 |
| 2012 | 0.11 | −0.07 | #83 |
| 2011 | 0.17 | −0.23 | #78 |
| 2010 | 0.40 | +0.07 | #73 |
Analysis
Marshall Islands's rule of law was 0.87 in 2025, a rise of +0.20 from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 0.87 by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marshall Islands's rule of law was 0.87 in 2025. Ranked 44th globally. This represents a 29.1% increase from the previous year.
Marshall Islands's rule of law peaked at 0.87 in 2025.
The lowest rule of law in Marshall Islands was -0.20 in 1996.
Marshall Islands ranks 44th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Marshall Islands's rule of law is projected to reach 0.87 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Marshall Islands in 2025 was 0.87. This ranks 44th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_marshall-islands_rule-of-law,
title = {Marshall Islands Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/marshall-islands/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}