Papua New Guinea Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Papua New Guinea's rule of law was -0.44 in 2025, ranked 131st globally. This represents a 18.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Papua New Guinea's rule of law stood at -0.44 in 2025, a rise of +0.10 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.44 by 2025. Papua New Guinea ranked 131st globally.
Papua New Guinea's Rule of Law score, as measured by the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators, stood at -0.44 in 2025, ranking the country 131st globally and tying it with Argentina and Panama, while closely trailing Kazakhstan and Benin at -0.43. This latest value represents a modest improvement from its all-time low of -1.01 recorded in 2005, a period marked by institutional instability and weak legal enforcement. The 2025 score also marks the country's highest point in the 26-year coverage period, surpassing its initial reading of -0.62 in 1996, indicating a gradual but limited strengthening of legal frameworks over the past three decades. Despite this incremental progress, the score remains firmly in negative territory, reflecting persistent challenges in judicial independence, contract enforcement, and crime control. The trajectory suggests that while governance reforms have had some effect, systemic weaknesses continue to constrain meaningful advancement. Sustained improvements in the rule of law will likely depend on institutional capacity building, anti-corruption measures, and greater investment in the justice sector.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.38 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.44 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.44 | +0.10 | #131 |
| 2023 | -0.54 | +0.08 | #142 |
| 2022 | -0.62 | +0.14 | #145 |
| 2021 | -0.75 | −0.04 | #154 |
| 2020 | -0.71 | +0.09 | #150 |
| 2019 | -0.80 | −0.04 | #156 |
| 2018 | -0.76 | +0.05 | #155 |
| 2017 | -0.82 | −0.04 | #159 |
| 2016 | -0.78 | +0.09 | #154 |
| 2015 | -0.87 | −0.09 | #160 |
| 2014 | -0.77 | +0.17 | #151 |
| 2013 | -0.94 | −0.11 | #166 |
| 2012 | -0.83 | −0.02 | #155 |
| 2011 | -0.81 | +0.12 | #153 |
| 2010 | -0.93 | −0.02 | #161 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Papua New Guinea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. 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
Papua New Guinea's rule of law was -0.44 in 2025. Ranked 131st globally. This represents a 18.9% increase from the previous year.
Papua New Guinea's rule of law peaked at -0.44 in 2025.
The lowest rule of law in Papua New Guinea was -1.01 in 2005.
Papua New Guinea ranks 131st globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Papua New Guinea's rule of law is projected to reach -0.44 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Papua New Guinea in 2025 was -0.44. This ranks 131st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_papua-new-guinea_rule-of-law,
title = {Papua New Guinea Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/papua-new-guinea/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}