Countries with the Weakest Rule of Law (2023)
Source: World Bank·25 countries·Updated 2023
Weak rule of law signals instability, corruption, and lack of judicial independence. These 25 countries score lowest in 2023.
Somalia, Fed. Rep. leads with rule of law of -2.21.
Venezuela, RB ranks #2 at -2.15.
South Sudan ranks #3 at -2.14.
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #4 at -2.04.
Yemen, Rep. ranks #5 at -1.84.
Bottom 25 Countries by Rule of Law
| # | Country | Rule of Law | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Somalia, Fed. Rep. | -2.21 | 2023 |
| 2 |  Venezuela, RB | -2.15 | 2023 |
| 3 |  South Sudan | -2.14 | 2023 |
| 4 |  Syrian Arab Republic | -2.04 | 2023 |
| 5 |  Yemen, Rep. | -1.84 | 2023 |
| 6 |  Libya | -1.77 | 2023 |
| 7 |  Eritrea | -1.76 | 2023 |
| 8 |  Central African Republic | -1.76 | 2023 |
| 9 |  Iraq | -1.69 | 2023 |
| 10 |  Sudan | -1.67 | 2023 |
| 11 |  Congo, Dem. Rep. | -1.67 | 2023 |
| 12 |  Afghanistan | -1.65 | 2023 |
| 13 |  Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | -1.64 | 2023 |
| 14 |  Myanmar | -1.62 | 2023 |
| 15 |  Turkmenistan | -1.49 | 2023 |
| 16 |  Guinea-Bissau | -1.44 | 2023 |
| 17 |  Haiti | -1.36 | 2023 |
| 18 |  Chad | -1.35 | 2023 |
| 19 |  Comoros | -1.34 | 2023 |
| 20 |  Equatorial Guinea | -1.34 | 2023 |
| 21 |  Nicaragua | -1.28 | 2023 |
| 22 |  Tajikistan | -1.28 | 2023 |
| 23 |  Zimbabwe | -1.28 | 2023 |
| 24 |  Burundi | -1.25 | 2023 |
| 25 |  Belarus | -1.25 | 2023 |
Data from 205 countries is available. View full rankings →
FAQ
What is the lowest rule of law in 2023?
Somalia, Fed. Rep. has the lowest rule of law at -2.21 in 2023.
How many countries are included in this ranking?
This article features the bottom 25 countries out of 205 with available data. Full rankings available on the indicator page.
Where does this data come from?
Data is sourced from the World Bank. It is updated regularly as new releases become available.