Philippines Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Philippines's rule of law was -0.39 in 2025, ranked 124th globally. This represents a 7.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Philippines's rule of law stood at -0.39 in 2025, a rise of +0.03 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.39 by 2025. Philippines ranked 124th globally.
The Philippines’ Rule of Law indicator, as measured by the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, stood at -0.39 in 2025, ranking the country 124th globally and placing it on par with Nepal (-0.39) and slightly below Côte d’Ivoire (-0.38). This reflects a prolonged period of institutional volatility, beginning with a historical peak of 0.07 in 1996, the highest value recorded over the 26-year coverage period, followed by significant fluctuations that culminated in an all-time low of -0.67 in 2021. The sharp decline from its peak indicates persistent challenges in legal predictability, enforcement, and constraints on government power. Although there has been some recovery since the 2021 trough, the 2025 value remains well below the initial 1996 level, suggesting that reforms have yet to restore earlier confidence in legal institutions. Compared to peers such as Brazil (-0.34), the Philippines continues to lag behind upper-middle-income economies facing similar governance challenges. Sustained improvements in judicial independence, anti-corruption mechanisms, and law enforcement consistency would be necessary to shift the long-term trajectory toward stronger rule of law.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.34 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.39 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.39 | +0.03 | #124 |
| 2023 | -0.42 | +0.10 | #128 |
| 2022 | -0.52 | +0.15 | #137 |
| 2021 | -0.67 | −0.01 | #149 |
| 2020 | -0.65 | −0.08 | #145 |
| 2019 | -0.57 | −0.01 | #142 |
| 2018 | -0.57 | −0.06 | #137 |
| 2017 | -0.50 | −0.07 | #136 |
| 2016 | -0.43 | −0.01 | #129 |
| 2015 | -0.42 | −0.05 | #121 |
| 2014 | -0.37 | +0.10 | #115 |
| 2013 | -0.47 | +0.05 | #119 |
| 2012 | -0.52 | −0.02 | #123 |
| 2011 | -0.51 | +0.05 | #126 |
| 2010 | -0.55 | +0.02 | #132 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Philippines matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. 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
Philippines's rule of law was -0.39 in 2025. Ranked 124th globally. This represents a 7.4% increase from the previous year.
Philippines's rule of law peaked at 0.07 in 1996.
The lowest rule of law in Philippines was -0.67 in 2021.
Philippines ranks 124th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Philippines's rule of law is projected to reach -0.39 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Philippines in 2025 was -0.39. This ranks 124th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_philippines_rule-of-law,
title = {Philippines Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/philippines/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}