Countries With the Fastest Growth in Rule of law score (5-Year Change)
Change in Rule of law score over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that rose are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0 (Worldwide Governance Indicators terms)).
Summary
Somalia, Fed. Rep. rose the most: by 23.9, from -48.3 score (-2.5 to 2.5) to -24.3 score (-2.5 to 2.5) in the five years to 2023. Venezuela, RB is second (+23.9), followed by Syrian Arab Republic (+20.7). 114 countries rose over that period; the median change among them was +6.43.
- #1
- Somalia, Fed. Rep. · +23.9
- Median
- +6.43
- Coverage
- 114 countries
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (score (-2.5 to 2.5)) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | -48.3 | -24.3 | +23.9 |
| 2 | Venezuela, RB | -47.6 | -23.7 | +23.9 |
| 3 | Syrian Arab Republic | -43.1 | -22.4 | +20.7 |
| 4 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | -37.8 | -18.4 | +19.5 |
| 5 | Iraq | -37.8 | -18.6 | +19.2 |
| 6 | South Sudan | -41.7 | -23.5 | +18.2 |
| 7 | Burundi | -31.8 | -13.8 | +18 |
| 8 | Yemen, Rep. | -37.9 | -20.2 | +17.7 |
| 9 | Afghanistan | -35.4 | -18.1 | +17.3 |
| 10 | Central African Republic | -36 | -19.4 | +16.7 |
| 11 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | -34.5 | -18.1 | +16.4 |
| 12 | Libya | -35.5 | -19.5 | +16 |
| 13 | El Salvador | -19.5 | -4.06 | +15.4 |
| 14 | Equatorial Guinea | -29.9 | -14.7 | +15.1 |
| 15 | Cambodia | -23.8 | -9.01 | +14.8 |
| 16 | Timor-Leste | -23.9 | -9.17 | +14.7 |
| 17 | Eritrea | -34 | -19.4 | +14.6 |
| 18 | Turkmenistan | -30.7 | -16.4 | +14.4 |
| 19 | Uzbekistan | -23 | -9.16 | +13.9 |
| 20 | Guinea | -25.8 | -12.3 | +13.6 |
| 21 | Tajikistan | -27.3 | -14.1 | +13.3 |
| 22 | Zimbabwe | -27.1 | -14 | +13.1 |
| 23 | Chad | -27.9 | -14.9 | +13 |
| 24 | Congo, Rep. | -23.8 | -11.2 | +12.6 |
| 25 | Bolivia | -25.4 | -13.4 | +12 |
| 26 | Cameroon | -23.1 | -11.4 | +11.7 |
| 27 | Mozambique | -22.4 | -11.3 | +11.1 |
| 28 | Guinea-Bissau | -26.5 | -15.8 | +10.7 |
| 29 | Guatemala | -22.5 | -11.8 | +10.7 |
| 30 | Belize | -17.6 | -6.99 | +10.7 |
| 31 | Maldives | -11.4 | -0.865 | +10.6 |
| 32 | Honduras | -22.2 | -12 | +10.1 |
| 33 | Papua New Guinea | -16 | -5.94 | +10.1 |
| 34 | Liberia | -21 | -11.3 | +9.63 |
| 35 | Nigeria | -19.2 | -9.76 | +9.46 |
| 36 | Algeria | -16.9 | -7.46 | +9.45 |
| 37 | Comoros | -24 | -14.8 | +9.22 |
| 38 | Lao PDR | -18.1 | -9.16 | +8.93 |
| 39 | Benin | -14.5 | -5.56 | +8.92 |
| 40 | Angola | -21 | -12.1 | +8.89 |
| 41 | Nicaragua | -22.6 | -14.1 | +8.55 |
| 42 | Bangladesh | -13.6 | -5.53 | +8.06 |
| 43 | Tanzania | -12 | -4.11 | +7.87 |
| 44 | Mauritania | -14.8 | -7.03 | +7.78 |
| 45 | Djibouti | -19.9 | -12.4 | +7.54 |
| 46 | Côte d'Ivoire | -12.6 | -5.07 | +7.53 |
| 47 | Sierra Leone | -16.7 | -9.16 | +7.53 |
| 48 | Moldova | -9.12 | -1.68 | +7.44 |
| 49 | São Tomé and Principe | -14.9 | -7.64 | +7.3 |
| 50 | Haiti | -22.2 | -15 | +7.24 |
| 51 | Philippines | -11.8 | -4.6 | +7.21 |
| 52 | Togo | -13 | -5.8 | +7.15 |
| 53 | Albania | -8.65 | -1.81 | +6.84 |
| 54 | Madagascar | -17.5 | -10.7 | +6.79 |
| 55 | Malawi | -8.47 | -1.71 | +6.76 |
| 56 | Azerbaijan | -13 | -6.23 | +6.73 |
| 57 | Kyrgyz Republic | -19.5 | -12.9 | +6.55 |
| 58 | Mali | -17.1 | -10.8 | +6.32 |
| 59 | Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 0.826 | 7.08 | +6.26 |
| 60 | Dominican Republic | -7.62 | -1.41 | +6.21 |
| 61 | Paraguay | -12.6 | -6.4 | +6.2 |
| 62 | Ukraine | -15.9 | -9.77 | +6.14 |
| 63 | Peru | -11.9 | -5.92 | +5.93 |
| 64 | Kazakhstan | -10.5 | -4.91 | +5.6 |
| 65 | South Africa | -4.6 | 0.949 | +5.54 |
| 66 | Gabon | -15.1 | -9.6 | +5.47 |
| 67 | Sudan | -23.9 | -18.4 | +5.45 |
| 68 | Gambia, The | -9.52 | -4.12 | +5.4 |
| 69 | Kenya | -8.93 | -3.59 | +5.34 |
| 70 | Nepal | -10.3 | -5.09 | +5.18 |
| 71 | Belarus | -18.7 | -13.8 | +4.94 |
| 72 | Niger | -12.7 | -7.79 | +4.87 |
| 73 | Indonesia | -6.54 | -1.69 | +4.85 |
| 74 | Pakistan | -14.3 | -9.46 | +4.85 |
| 75 | Cuba | -9.7 | -4.98 | +4.71 |
| 76 | Kosovo | -8 | -3.43 | +4.58 |
| 77 | North Macedonia | -6.41 | -1.85 | +4.56 |
| 78 | Mexico | -13.4 | -8.87 | +4.55 |
| 79 | Marshall Islands | 3 | 7.45 | +4.44 |
| 80 | Russian Federation | -17.4 | -13.1 | +4.38 |
| 81 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | -6.28 | -2.03 | +4.26 |
| 82 | Guyana | -8 | -3.76 | +4.23 |
| 83 | Myanmar | -21.9 | -17.8 | +4.08 |
| 84 | Morocco | -5.17 | -1.4 | +3.76 |
| 85 | Mongolia | -5.79 | -2.03 | +3.76 |
| 86 | Lebanon | -16.4 | -12.8 | +3.57 |
| 87 | China | -3.86 | -0.441 | +3.42 |
| 88 | Ecuador | -13.9 | -10.5 | +3.35 |
| 89 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | -14.9 | -11.7 | +3.25 |
| 90 | West Bank and Gaza | -10.5 | -7.51 | +3.01 |
| 91 | Naoero | -3.21 | -0.203 | +3.01 |
| 92 | Colombia | -8 | -5.04 | +2.96 |
| 93 | Brazil | -6.29 | -3.4 | +2.9 |
| 94 | Armenia | -4.09 | -1.34 | +2.74 |
| 95 | Thailand | -0.022 | 2.69 | +2.72 |
| 96 | Serbia | -3.52 | -0.82 | +2.7 |
| 97 | Jamaica | -4.52 | -1.92 | +2.6 |
| 98 | Türkiye | -8.14 | -5.63 | +2.51 |
| 99 | Lesotho | -7.64 | -5.28 | +2.36 |
| 100 | Bulgaria | -2.16 | -0.075 | +2.08 |
Showing the top 100 of 114. Premium downloads the full list as CSV or JSON.
About the top 10
#1 Somalia, Fed. Rep.
Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranks #1 on this list with +23.9.
- Capital
- Mogadishu
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 19.66 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$13 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$661.2 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 59 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 55.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: North East State of Somalia, Mogadishu.
Also ranks #1 in prevalence of undernourishment · #2 in population ages 0-14 share · #2 in age dependency ratio (young).
#2 Venezuela, RB
Venezuela, RB ranks #2 on this list with +23.9.
- Capital
- Caracas
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 28.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.66 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,495 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia.
Also ranks #1 in time to start a business (days) · #3 in protected terrestrial area share · #11 in refugee population by origin.
#3 Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #3 on this list with +20.7.
- Capital
- Damascus
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 25.62 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$23.74 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$1,057 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 72.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Damascus, Aleppo.
Also ranks #2 in refugee population by origin · #2 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #3 in net migration.
#4 Congo, Dem. Rep.
Congo, Dem. Rep. ranks #4 on this list with +19.5.
- Capital
- Kinshasa
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 112.83 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$91.03 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$806.8 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 62.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 45.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kinshasa, Mbuji-Mayi, Kananga.
Also ranks #1 in renewable energy share · #1 in poverty headcount ratio · #1 in mineral rents share of gdp.
#5 Iraq
Iraq ranks #5 on this list with +19.2.
- Capital
- Baghdad
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 47.02 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$254.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,410 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 69.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Baghdad, Mosul, Basra.
Also ranks #2 in natural resource rents share of gdp · #2 in oil rents share of gdp · #9 in industry value added share of gdp.
#6 South Sudan
South Sudan ranks #6 on this list with +18.2.
- Capital
- Juba
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 12.19 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 57.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 21.7% of population (2025)
- Currency
- South Sudanese pound
- Official languages
- English
Also ranks #1 in infant mortality rate · #4 in inflation rate · #4 in maternal mortality ratio.
#7 Burundi
Burundi ranks #7 on this list with +18.
- Capital
- Gitega
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 14.39 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.36 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$233.8 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 25.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #3 in forest rents share of gdp · #3 in real effective exchange rate index.
#8 Yemen, Rep.
Yemen, Rep. ranks #8 on this list with +17.7.
- Capital
- Sanaa, Aden
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 41.77 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 37% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 398,000 arrivals (2015)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 0.261 t CO2e per person (2024)
Also ranks #2 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #2 in prevalence of wasting (under-5) · #12 in unemployment rate.
#9 Afghanistan
Afghanistan ranks #9 on this list with +17.3.
- Capital
- Kabul
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 43.84 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.78 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$416.9 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 66.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 25.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kabul.
Also ranks #1 in refugee population by origin · #4 in health expenditure share of gdp · #6 in agriculture value added share of gdp.
#10 Central African Republic
Central African Republic ranks #10 on this list with +16.7.
- Capital
- Bangui
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 5.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.07 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$556.1 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 57.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 44.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in population ages 0-14 share · #1 in age dependency ratio · #1 in age dependency ratio (young).
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Rule of law score over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that rose are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator RL.EST. Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Worldwide Governance Indicators terms). Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Rule of Law: Estimate: Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank (WB) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank (WB).
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.