Zimbabwe ranks 122nd in global rule of law index

Zimbabwe has recorded a marginal improvement in its rule of law score but remains poorly ranked globally, with persistent weaknesses in government accountability, fundamental rights and regulatory enforcement.

The 2026 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, released on Wednesday, ranked Zimbabwe 122nd out of 143 countries and jurisdictions, with a score of 0.40, representing an increase of less than one percent from the previous year.

Zimbabwe ranked 25th out of 34 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and 21st among 33 lower-middle-income economies.

The country performed poorly in several key indicators, ranking 129th globally for both constraints on government powers and fundamental rights. It ranked 132nd in regulatory enforcement, 127th in open government and 121st in the absence of corruption category.

The findings come as Zimbabwe seeks to attract investment and rebuild confidence in its institutions. Predictable laws, transparent regulation and consistent enforcement are widely regarded as important factors in creating a business environment in which investors can operate with confidence.

The WJP report warned that authoritarian practices were becoming increasingly entrenched worldwide, with more than 86 percent of countries experiencing a sustained five-year decline in at least one safeguard against authoritarian rule. Zimbabwe was among the countries affected.

The index also recorded a decline in freedom of assembly and association in Zimbabwe. However, the country did not register a deterioration in freedom of opinion and expression or civic participation in the latest assessment.

Judicial oversight of government powers also weakened, highlighting concerns about the effectiveness of institutions tasked with providing checks and balances on executive authority.

Despite these challenges, Zimbabwe performed relatively better in order and security, ranking 90th globally, and civil justice, where it placed 91st. The country ranked 100th in criminal justice.

The WJP Rule of Law Index assesses how the rule of law operates in practice, drawing on more than 215,000 household surveys and 3,400 surveys of legal practitioners and experts across 143 countries and jurisdictions.

Denmark topped the global rankings, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg.