Mexico Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Mexico's rule of law was -0.97 in 2025, ranked 164th globally. This represents a 19.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Mexico's rule of law stood at -0.97 in 2025, a decline of +0.16 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.97 by 2025. Mexico ranked 164th globally.
Mexico’s Rule of Law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has declined steadily over the 26‑year span from –0.73 in 1996 to a trough of –0.97 in 2025, placing it 164th globally. The indicator’s all‑time peak of –0.35 occurred in 2002, after which a persistent erosion of legal certainty and enforcement has pushed the index lower each year. By 2025 Mexico shares the –0.97 rating with peers such as Cameroon and Ecuador, while Liberia sits marginally higher at –0.96 and Ukraine slightly lower at –0.99, underscoring a regional clustering of weak rule‑of‑law performance. The downward trajectory reflects chronic challenges including judicial backlog, limited prosecutorial independence, and uneven implementation of anti‑corruption reforms. If legislative measures strengthen judicial capacity and enhance transparency, the next assessment cycle could halt the decline and potentially reverse the trend, offering a modest uplift in Mexico’s governance standing.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -1.02 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.97 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.97 | −0.16 | #164 |
| 2023 | -0.81 | +0.06 | #153 |
| 2022 | -0.87 | −0.06 | #160 |
| 2021 | -0.81 | −0.17 | #156 |
| 2020 | -0.64 | +0.02 | #143 |
| 2019 | -0.66 | −0.02 | #148 |
| 2018 | -0.64 | −0.06 | #145 |
| 2017 | -0.58 | −0.00 | #139 |
| 2016 | -0.58 | −0.13 | #139 |
| 2015 | -0.45 | −0.05 | #123 |
| 2014 | -0.41 | +0.14 | #121 |
| 2013 | -0.55 | −0.01 | #132 |
| 2012 | -0.54 | +0.01 | #126 |
| 2011 | -0.55 | +0.00 | #134 |
| 2010 | -0.55 | +0.01 | #131 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Mexico matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1999. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Mexico's rule of law was -0.97 in 2025. Ranked 164th globally. This represents a 19.9% decrease from the previous year.
Mexico's rule of law peaked at -0.35 in 2002.
The lowest rule of law in Mexico was -0.97 in 2025.
Mexico ranks 164th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Mexico's rule of law is projected to reach -0.97 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Mexico in 2025 was -0.97. This ranks 164th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_mexico_rule-of-law,
title = {Mexico Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/mexico/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}