Sierra Leone Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Sierra Leone's rule of law was -0.86 in 2025, ranked 158th globally. This represents a 3.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Sierra Leone's rule of law stood at -0.86 in 2025, a decline of +0.03 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.86 by 2025. Sierra Leone ranked 158th globally.
Sierra Leone's Rule of Law index, as measured by the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators, has shown mixed trends over the past 26 years. At its worst in 1996, the country scored a -1.38, indicating a significant lack of adherence to the rule of law. However, by 2020, Sierra Leone had improved to a score of -0.79, its highest mark to date. Unfortunately, this progress has been reversed, and the country now ranks #158 globally with a score of -0.86. This current ranking is comparable to that of Pakistan, which scored a -0.84 in the same period. The trajectory of Sierra Leone's Rule of Law index may be influenced by the country's efforts to strengthen its institutions and improve governance, a goal that could be accelerated by sustained investment in education and judicial reform. A significant increase in transparency and accountability would also likely contribute to a positive shift in this indicator.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.87 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.86 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.86 | −0.03 | #158 |
| 2023 | -0.83 | −0.00 | #157 |
| 2022 | -0.83 | +0.01 | #156 |
| 2021 | -0.84 | −0.05 | #158 |
| 2020 | -0.79 | +0.01 | #156 |
| 2019 | -0.80 | −0.01 | #157 |
| 2018 | -0.80 | +0.01 | #157 |
| 2017 | -0.81 | −0.00 | #157 |
| 2016 | -0.80 | +0.08 | #157 |
| 2015 | -0.88 | +0.06 | #165 |
| 2014 | -0.94 | −0.07 | #166 |
| 2013 | -0.87 | −0.00 | #159 |
| 2012 | -0.87 | −0.01 | #158 |
| 2011 | -0.86 | +0.08 | #157 |
| 2010 | -0.95 | −0.03 | #164 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Sierra Leone matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sierra Leone's rule of law was -0.86 in 2025. Ranked 158th globally. This represents a 3.0% decrease from the previous year.
Sierra Leone's rule of law peaked at -0.79 in 2020.
The lowest rule of law in Sierra Leone was -1.38 in 1996.
Sierra Leone ranks 158th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Sierra Leone's rule of law is projected to reach -0.86 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Sierra Leone in 2025 was -0.86. This ranks 158th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sierra-leone_rule-of-law,
title = {Sierra Leone Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sierra-leone/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}