For the seventh year in a row, the rule of law has eroded in a majority of countries, according to the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2024. Liberia however was a top performer amongst low income countries, improving on its rating ahead of countries such as Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Mail.
In the last year, the rule of law declined in 57% of countries surveyed. However, Liberia is among the minority of countries to see its WJP Rule of Law Index score increase this year.
Liberia’s overall rule of law score increased by 1.0% in this year’s Index. It ranks 109th out of 142 countries worldwide.
Regionally, Liberia ranks 17th out of 34 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The region’s top performer is Rwanda (ranked 40th out of 142 globally), followed by Namibia and Mauritius. The three countries with the lowest scores in the region are Cameroon, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (136th globally).
In the last year, 21 out of 34 countries declined in Sub-Saharan Africa. Of those 21 countries, 14 had also declined in the previous year.
Among low income countries, Liberia ranks 6th out of 16.
Liberia and global trends
Since 2016, a global rule of law recession has affected 77% of countries studied, including Liberia.
Globally, the declines were largely driven by authoritarian trends. Between 2016 and 2024, the Index factor measuring Fundamental Rights fell in 81% of countries, including Liberia.
Over the past seven years, Index scores for Constraints on Government Powers have fallen in 77% of countries—including Liberia. Around the world, legislatures, judiciaries, and civil society—including the media—have all lost ground on checking executive power, the Index shows.
While these and other authoritarian trends had slowed a little last year, they expanded in 2024. Liberia is not among the 63% of countries where Fundamental Rights fell in the past year. Liberia is not among the 59% of countries where Constraints on Government Powers fell in the past year.
Despite this global backsliding, a smaller majority of countries experienced overall rule of law declines this year (57%) as compared to the last two (59% and 61%).
One reason is that some progress was made globally in the fight against corruption between 2023 and 2024. This year, 59% of countries saw their Index scores for Absence of Corruption improve—including Liberia.
“After years of rule of law declines it can be easy to focus on the negative. But to do so would ignore accomplishments in anti-corruption and the hard work occurring to improve justice systems globally,” WJP Co-founder and President William H. Neukom said. “We must redouble our efforts to expand these rule of law gains in all areas.”
Global rankings
Globally, the top-ranked country in the 2024 WJP Rule of Law Index is Denmark, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Germany. The country with the lowest score is Venezuela, followed by Cambodia, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Myanmar.
Liberia’s WJP Rule of Law Index rankings
Overall score global rank: 109 / 142
Overall score regional rank: 17 / 34
Factor score rankings:
| FACTOR | GLOBAL RANK | REGIONAL RANK* | INCOME RANK** |
| Constraints on Government Powers | 80/142 | 10/34 | 4/16 |
| Absence of Corruption | 124/142 | 25/34 | 12/16 |
| Open Government | 84/142 | 8/34 | 2/16 |
| Fundamental Rights | 80/142 | 10/34 | 3/16 |
| Order and Security | 117/142 | 21/34 | 7/16 |
| Regulatory Enforcement | 120/142 | 23/34 | 8/16 |
| Civil Justice | 117/142 | 26/34 | 10/16 |
| Criminal Justice | 117/142 | 26/34 | 11/16 |
(1 is best in WJP Rule of Law Index rankings)
ABOUT THE WORLD JUSTICE PROJECT:
The World Justice Project (WJP) is an independent, nonpartisan, multidisciplinary organization working to create knowledge, build awareness, and stimulate action to advance the rule of law worldwide.
Effective rule of law reduces corruption, combats poverty and disease, and protects people from injustices large and small. It underpins development, accountable government, and respect for fundamental rights, and it is the foundation for communities of justice, health, opportunity, and peace.
The World Justice Project defines the rule of law as a durable system of laws, institutions, norms, and community commitment that delivers: accountability, just laws, open government, and accessible justice
*Countries and jurisdictions measured in the Sub-Saharan Africa region: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
**Low income countries and jurisdictions: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda.
