South Africa Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
South Africa's rule of law was 0.29 in 2025, ranked 86th globally. This represents a 231.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
South Africa's rule of law stood at 0.29 in 2025, a rise of +0.20 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.29 by 2025. South Africa ranked 86th globally.
South Africa's Rule of Law index, as measured by the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), has demonstrated a mixed trend over the past 26 years, spanning from 1996 to 2025. The country's all-time low of -0.24 in 2020 marks a significant decline from its peak of 0.29 in 2025, indicating a worsening of the rule of law environment. Notably, South Africa's 2025 score of 0.29 places it at #86 globally, closely ranking with countries like India, which shares a similar score. This stagnation in rule of law development is concerning, particularly in comparison to countries like Rwanda, which has made significant strides in strengthening its institutions. The trajectory of South Africa's Rule of Law index is likely to be influenced by the country's ongoing efforts to address corruption and improve governance, with a successful implementation of these reforms potentially leading to an uptick in the index score.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.37 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.29 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.29 | +0.20 | #86 |
| 2023 | 0.09 | +0.05 | #92 |
| 2022 | 0.04 | −0.02 | #93 |
| 2021 | 0.06 | +0.31 | #92 |
| 2020 | -0.24 | −0.06 | #111 |
| 2019 | -0.19 | +0.03 | #104 |
| 2018 | -0.22 | −0.07 | #108 |
| 2017 | -0.16 | −0.20 | #102 |
| 2016 | 0.04 | +0.03 | #89 |
| 2015 | 0.02 | −0.14 | #86 |
| 2014 | 0.16 | +0.02 | #75 |
| 2013 | 0.14 | +0.05 | #87 |
| 2012 | 0.08 | −0.05 | #85 |
| 2011 | 0.13 | +0.03 | #81 |
| 2010 | 0.10 | +0.03 | #85 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
South Africa matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1994. 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
South Africa's rule of law was 0.29 in 2025. Ranked 86th globally. This represents a 231.1% increase from the previous year.
South Africa's rule of law peaked at 0.29 in 2025.
The lowest rule of law in South Africa was -0.24 in 2020.
South Africa ranks 86th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
South Africa's rule of law is projected to reach 0.29 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of South Africa in 2025 was 0.29. This ranks 86th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_south-africa_rule-of-law,
title = {South Africa Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/south-africa/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}