Sierra Leone Rises in Global Rule of Law Annual Rankings

Sierra Leone has emerged as a global exception in the latest World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2025, improving its performance at a time when the majority of nations are experiencing a decline.

The WJP report, which measures how people experience justice, accountability, and security, indicated that 68% of countries recorded a drop in their rule of law scores this year—marking the eighth consecutive year of global decline.

Defying this trend, Sierra Leone improved its overall score by 1.4% (from 0.43 to 0.44). This gain resulted in the nation moving up the global rankings to 109th out of 143 countries.

Sierra Leone’s improvement is particularly noteworthy within Africa, where 28 of 38 countries saw their scores fall. Sierra Leone was one of only eight African nations to post gains, joining Senegal and Gabon in reflecting positive reform.

The country now ranks 20th in Africa, placing it ahead of regional neighbors Guinea and Nigeria, and on par with Liberia. Globally, Sierra Leone maintains its position among the top seven low-income countries for rule of law performance.

Government officials welcomed the results, attributing the progress to consistent political will and targeted reforms.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., stated, “This progress reflects our government’s steady investment in justice reform, anti-corruption enforcement, and access to justice. We are building a legal system that protects rights, upholds accountability, and serves the people.”

Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, added that the report underscores the nation’s democratic maturity. “At a time when nearly seven in ten countries are slipping, Sierra Leone is improving. That is not luck — it’s the outcome of consistent reforms and political will,” he said.