Tanzania Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Tanzania's rule of law was -0.30 in 2025, ranked 119th globally. This represents a 20.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Tanzania's rule of law stood at -0.30 in 2025, a rise of +0.08 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.30 by 2025. Tanzania ranked 119th globally.
Tanzania’s Rule of Law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has slipped from a modest -0.19 in 1996 to -0.30 in 2025, placing the country 119th globally. The index reached its most favorable reading of -0.17 in 1998, shortly after the implementation of structural adjustment reforms, but then declined sharply, hitting a historic low of -0.62 in 2020 amid pandemic‑related disruptions to the judicial system and law‑enforcement capacity. Over the 26‑year span, the downward trajectory has been steeper than that of peers such as Trinidad and Tobago (-0.28) and El Salvador (-0.31), which have managed to maintain relatively higher scores despite similar fiscal constraints. Persistent challenges include limited judicial independence, corruption, and inadequate legal infrastructure, which together undermine contract enforcement and property rights. Strengthening institutional accountability, expanding legal aid, and investing in court modernization could reverse the current slide and set Tanzania on a more positive governance path in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.24 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.30 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.30 | +0.08 | #119 |
| 2023 | -0.37 | +0.09 | #125 |
| 2022 | -0.46 | +0.09 | #130 |
| 2021 | -0.55 | +0.06 | #138 |
| 2020 | -0.62 | −0.05 | #142 |
| 2019 | -0.57 | +0.01 | #141 |
| 2018 | -0.57 | −0.10 | #139 |
| 2017 | -0.47 | −0.07 | #134 |
| 2016 | -0.40 | −0.00 | #128 |
| 2015 | -0.40 | +0.01 | #118 |
| 2014 | -0.40 | +0.08 | #120 |
| 2013 | -0.48 | +0.06 | #120 |
| 2012 | -0.54 | −0.02 | #129 |
| 2011 | -0.51 | −0.03 | #128 |
| 2010 | -0.49 | −0.01 | #127 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Tanzania matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Tanzania's rule of law was -0.30 in 2025. Ranked 119th globally. This represents a 20.4% increase from the previous year.
Tanzania's rule of law peaked at -0.17 in 1998.
The lowest rule of law in Tanzania was -0.62 in 2020.
Tanzania ranks 119th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Tanzania's rule of law is projected to reach -0.30 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Tanzania in 2025 was -0.30. This ranks 119th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_tanzania_rule-of-law,
title = {Tanzania Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/tanzania/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}