Saudi Arabia Regulatory Quality
Regulatory Quality RQ.EST
Saudi Arabia's regulatory quality was 0.84 in 2025, ranked 45th globally. This represents a 61.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Saudi Arabia's regulatory quality stood at 0.84 in 2025, a rise of +0.32 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.84 by 2025. Saudi Arabia ranked 45th globally.
Saudi Arabia's regulatory quality has displayed a gradual improvement over the past quarter century, according to the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators. The country's score has risen from a low of -0.31 in 1996 to its current standing of 0.84, a 2.15-point increase that positions it at number 45 globally. This upward trajectory suggests a positive shift in the business environment, with a notable improvement in the country's regulatory framework. A comparison with peer countries reveals that Saudi Arabia lags behind leaders such as San Marino, which boasts a score of 0.99, but surpasses many developing nations. The country's closest regional counterpart, Georgia, boasts a higher score of 0.96, underscoring the need for further reform. With the current score of 0.84, Saudi Arabia continues to witness gradual improvements in regulatory quality, and any significant strides in governance and institutional reform would likely propel the country further up the global rankings.
Data & projection
| Year | Regulatory Quality | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.97 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.84 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.84 | +0.32 | #45 |
| 2023 | 0.52 | +0.10 | #61 |
| 2022 | 0.42 | +0.09 | #69 |
| 2021 | 0.32 | +0.07 | #72 |
| 2020 | 0.25 | +0.34 | #79 |
| 2019 | -0.09 | +0.00 | #101 |
| 2018 | -0.09 | −0.07 | #102 |
| 2017 | -0.02 | −0.08 | #94 |
| 2016 | 0.06 | +0.06 | #87 |
| 2015 | 0.00 | +0.01 | #96 |
| 2014 | -0.01 | −0.09 | #94 |
| 2013 | 0.08 | −0.02 | #90 |
| 2012 | 0.10 | +0.07 | #88 |
| 2011 | 0.02 | −0.13 | #91 |
| 2010 | 0.16 | −0.00 | #86 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Saudi Arabia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw regulatory quality improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia's regulatory quality was 0.84 in 2025. Ranked 45th globally. This represents a 61.7% increase from the previous year.
Saudi Arabia's regulatory quality peaked at 0.84 in 2025.
The lowest regulatory quality in Saudi Arabia was -0.31 in 1996.
Saudi Arabia ranks 45th globally in regulatory quality as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RQ.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Saudi Arabia's regulatory quality is projected to reach 0.84 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The regulatory quality of Saudi Arabia in 2025 was 0.84. This ranks 45th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_saudi-arabia_regulatory-quality,
title = {Saudi Arabia Regulatory Quality},
url = {https://historysaid.com/saudi-arabia/regulatory-quality/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}