Nigeria Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Nigeria's rule of law was -0.88 in 2025, ranked 159th globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Nigeria's rule of law stood at -0.88 in 2025, a rise of +0.01 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.88 by 2025. Nigeria ranked 159th globally.
Nigeria’s rule‑of‑law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has risen modestly from a trough of –1.51 in 2003 to an all‑time peak of –0.84 in 2020, before slipping slightly to –0.88 in 2025, placing the country 159th out of 193 nations. The improvement between 2003 and 2020 reflects incremental reforms in the criminal‑justice system and greater judicial independence, yet the recent decline suggests that gains have stalled amid persistent challenges such as corruption, weak enforcement of contracts and limited access to legal services. Compared with peer states, Nigeria’s 2025 score is marginally better than Gabon’s –0.92 and close to Pakistan’s –0.84, but trails Sierra Leone’s –0.86, indicating a competitive but still lagging position within the sub‑Saharan and emerging‑economy cohort. Continued investment in legal infrastructure, transparent law‑enforcement practices and capacity‑building for the judiciary will be crucial to reverse the recent dip and sustain the upward trajectory witnessed in the past two decades.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.88 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.88 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.88 | +0.01 | #159 |
| 2023 | -0.89 | +0.03 | #161 |
| 2022 | -0.91 | −0.04 | #162 |
| 2021 | -0.87 | −0.03 | #160 |
| 2020 | -0.84 | +0.10 | #160 |
| 2019 | -0.94 | −0.02 | #165 |
| 2018 | -0.92 | −0.03 | #165 |
| 2017 | -0.89 | +0.15 | #164 |
| 2016 | -1.04 | −0.06 | #173 |
| 2015 | -0.98 | +0.07 | #173 |
| 2014 | -1.06 | +0.06 | #176 |
| 2013 | -1.12 | +0.02 | #177 |
| 2012 | -1.14 | +0.04 | #180 |
| 2011 | -1.18 | −0.02 | #179 |
| 2010 | -1.16 | −0.00 | #179 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nigeria matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. 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
Nigeria's rule of law was -0.88 in 2025. Ranked 159th globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from the previous year.
Nigeria's rule of law peaked at -0.84 in 2020.
The lowest rule of law in Nigeria was -1.51 in 2003.
Nigeria ranks 159th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Nigeria's rule of law is projected to reach -0.88 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Nigeria in 2025 was -0.88. This ranks 159th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_rule-of-law,
title = {Nigeria Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}