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Eritrean Railway, showing mountainous terrain traversed between Arbaroba and Asmara. Български: Еритрейската ЖП линия е посроена през италианското…

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Governance & Institutions

joint191st

of 194 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Eritrea on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys
  1. Key 1 of 4

    Government Effectiveness

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    -1.526

    Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)

    Higher is better

    Eritrea: -1.526. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.

    World median
    0.101
    Best in Eastern Africa
    0.86 Mauritius
    Land neighbours
    Djibouti -0.528 · Ethiopia -0.616 · Sudan -1.954
  2. Key 2 of 4

    Statistical Performance Indicators

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    No reading

    SPI overall score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    World Bank Group publishes no 2024 figure for Eritrea, so the standing rests on the other keys.

    Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.

    World median
    69.3
    Best in Eastern Africa
    80.44 Mauritius
    Land neighbours
    Djibouti 38.11 · Ethiopia 61.75 · Sudan 42.1
  3. Key 3 of 4

    Corruption Perceptions Index

    Transparency International

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)

    13

    CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)

    Higher is better

    Ranked 177th of 181 by Transparency International

    Eritrea: 13. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.

    World median
    39
    Best in Eastern Africa
    68 Seychelles
    Land neighbours
    Djibouti 31 · Ethiopia 38 · Sudan 14
  4. Key 4 of 4

    Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index

    V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    0.028

    Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)

    Higher is better

    Eritrea: 0.028. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.

    World median
    0.676
    Best in Eastern Africa
    0.959 Seychelles
    Land neighbours
    Djibouti 0.268 · Ethiopia 0.213 · Sudan 0.15

03In context

Eritrea beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.

Eastern Africa
1st194thNot placed · 30 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on governance & institutions

Eritrea and the countries it borders

Standing among all 194; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingGovernment EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100)Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Ethiopiacompare144th-0.61661.75380.213
Djibouti159th-0.52838.11310.268
Sudan187th-1.95442.1140.15
Eritrea=191st-1.526—130.028

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

04Context, no vote

Where Eritrea is ahead of the world, and behind

29 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median3

Statistics on which Eritrea does better than the middle country measured.

  • Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public OfficialsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.4030No earlier reading

    Eritrea: 0 · world median 6.403 · Firms saying firms like theirs pay officials informally to get things done (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 55.03; lower is better.

    Position 178th of 178 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Bribery IncidenceWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 7.2690No earlier reading

    Eritrea: 0 · world median 7.269 · Firms asked for a bribe at least once in six dealings with officials (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 64.26; lower is better.

    Position 175th of 175 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.397.2▼ Worsened since 2015

    Eritrea: 97.2 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

Behind the world median23

Statistics on which Eritrea does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.7510.2No earlier reading

    Eritrea: 10.2 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Equal Protection IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6510.449▼ Worsened since 2015

    Eritrea: 0.449 · world median 0.651 · Equal protection index (0–1); higher = rights and freedoms protected more equally across social groups and classes. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.027 to 0.986; higher is better.

    Position 129th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.752▼ Worsened since 2015

    Eritrea: 0.752 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.

    Position 47th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 81.2569.38▼ Worsened since 2015

    Eritrea: 69.38 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.125 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 144th of 190 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.93.6No earlier reading

    Eritrea: 3.6 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • State Fiscal Source of RevenueV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.179-0.381No real change since 2015

    Eritrea: -0.381 · world median 1.179 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.1); higher = broader taxation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -1.716 to 3.135; higher is better.

    Position 153rd of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.18.4No earlier reading

    Eritrea: 8.4 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Rigorous and Impartial Public AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.333-1.721▲ Improved since 2015

    Eritrea: -1.721 · world median 0.333 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +4.0); higher = a more rigorous and impartial administration. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -3.552 to 3.99; higher is better.

    Position 161st of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Neopatrimonial Rule IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4450.955No real change since 2015

    Eritrea: 0.955 · world median 0.445 · Neopatrimonial rule index (0–1; higher = more personalised rule). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.008 to 0.989; lower is better.

    Position 10th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2461.692▲ Improved since 2015

    Eritrea: 1.692 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.

    Position 75th of 78 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.102-1.769No real change since 2015

    Eritrea: -1.769 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.

    Position 204th of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance ScoreWorld Bank Group · 2018 · world median 2.250No earlier reading

    Eritrea: 0 · world median 2.25 · Regulatory governance score (0–5, where 5 is the most transparent rule-making). World Bank Group, 2018 edition, data for 2018.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2018 dataset

  • State Capacity IndexJonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School) · 2015 · world median 0.487-1.234▼ Worsened since 2005

    Eritrea: -1.234 · world median 0.487 · Latent estimate of state capacity (≈ −2.3 to +3.0, centred near 0); higher = a more capable state. Jonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School), 2015 edition, data for 2015.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.697; higher is better.

    Position 161st of 166 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2015 dataset

  • Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.197-1.61▼ Worsened since 2015

    Eritrea: -1.61 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.

    Position 207th of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.176No real change since 2014

    Eritrea: 0.176 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.

    Ranked 189th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.069No real change since 2015

    Eritrea: 0.069 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.

    Position 173rd of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Meritocratic Appointment in the State AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.309-2.169No real change since 2015

    Eritrea: -2.169 · world median 0.309 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.6); higher = more appointments on merit. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.442 to 3.584; higher is better.

    Position 174th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1912.7▼ Worsened since 2022

    Eritrea: 12.7 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.

    Ranked 193rd of 195 by Oxford Insights.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.027No real change since 2022

    Eritrea: 0.027 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.

    Position 195th of 196 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.464No earlier reading

    Eritrea: 4 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 197th of 198 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.009No real change since 2015

    Eritrea: 0.009 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.

    Position 176th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-2.106No real change since 2015

    Eritrea: -2.106 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.

    Position 209th of 209 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.022-2.348No real change since 2015

    Eritrea: -2.348 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.

    Position 206th of 206 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

No better end3

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.97516.54Moved since 2012

    Eritrea: 16.54 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.

    Position 8th of 168 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Central Bank Independence IndexAna Carolina Garriga, University of Essex · 2023 · world median 0.6080.412Moved since 2013

    Eritrea: 0.412 · world median 0.608 · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence). Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 0.974.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Senior Management Time Spent on Government RegulationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.7950.47No earlier reading

    Eritrea: 0.47 · world median 6.795 · Senior management time spent dealing with government regulation (% of a typical week). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 31.33.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

06The top of the list

Who leads on governance & institutions

The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Eritrea can most readily be measured against.

All 194 countries
  1. 1

    Denmark

    Northern Europe

    1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    New Zealand

    Australia and New Zealand

    2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale

  3. 3

    Sweden

    Northern Europe

    3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Africa

    Seychelles38th4/4 keys
  2. This page

    Eritrea=191st3/4 keys

Positions out of 194 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

08Questions

Eritrea on governance & institutions: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Eritrea rank on governance & institutions?

Eritrea is placed joint 191st of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for Eritrea?

-1.526 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.

What is the latest Corruption Perceptions Index figure for Eritrea?

13 in 2025 (cPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)), according to Transparency International. The world median in the same edition was 39.

How does Eritrea compare with Ethiopia on governance & institutions?

Ethiopia is placed 144th of 194, and Eritrea joint 191st. Government Effectiveness: Ethiopia -0.616, Eritrea -1.526; Corruption Perceptions Index: Ethiopia 38, Eritrea 13; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index: Ethiopia 0.213, Eritrea 0.028.

How have Eritrea’s governance & institutions figures changed?

Government Effectiveness fell from -1.366 in 2000 to -1.526 in 2025; Corruption Perceptions Index fell from 25 in 2012 to 13 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index fell from 0.044 in 2000 to 0.028 in 2025.

Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Eritrea?

No current reading is published for Eritrea on Agriculture Orientation Index, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Completeness of Birth Registration, Debt Service on External Debt, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Foundational ID Ownership, General Government Consumption, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Old-Age Pension Coverage, Open Data Inventory, Public Sector Employment, Statistical Performance Indicators and Trade Union Density. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

09Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.

About governance & institutions, in full

How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.

The governance & institutions method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 29 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Eritrea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Eritrea: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/eritrea/governance

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