In this section you can view data for each country by category as well as detailed descriptions of the categories and indicators. This is also where the raw data for all of our indicators are available to download.
The Ibrahim Index is compiled using indicators based on Expert Assessment (EA) or Official Data (OD).
| Ranks | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Algeria | 58.36 |
| 42 | Angola | 41.02 |
| 15 | Benin | 58.20 |
| 4 | Botswana | 73.59 |
| 27 | Burkina Faso | 51.58 |
| 38 | Burundi | 45.27 |
| 33 | Cameroon | 47.00 |
| 2 | Cape Verde | 78.01 |
| 48 | Central African Republic | 35.00 |
| 52 | Chad | 29.86 |
| 31 | Comoros | 48.58 |
| 41 | Congo | 42.79 |
| 50 | Congo, Democratic Rep. | 33.25 |
| 47 | Cote d'Ivoire | 36.61 |
| 36 | Djibouti | 46.04 |
| 11 | Egypt | 60.09 |
| 45 | Equatorial Guinea | 39.39 |
| 46 | Eritrea | 36.96 |
| 37 | Ethiopia | 45.59 |
| 21 | Gabon | 53.92 |
| 19 | Gambia | 55.13 |
| 7 | Ghana | 65.96 |
| 44 | Guinea | 40.41 |
| 40 | Guinea-Bissau | 43.50 |
| 22 | Kenya | 53.74 |
| 9 | Lesotho | 61.18 |
| 39 | Liberia | 44.92 |
| 23 | Libya | 53.69 |
| 13 | Madagascar | 58.37 |
| 25 | Malawi | 53.03 |
| 20 | Mali | 54.55 |
| 28 | Mauritania | 50.57 |
| 1 | Mauritius | 82.83 |
| 16 | Morocco | 57.83 |
| 26 | Mozambique | 52.38 |
| 6 | Namibia | 68.81 |
| 34 | Niger | 46.59 |
| 35 | Nigeria | 46.46 |
| 32 | Rwanda | 48.53 |
| 10 | Sao Tome and Principe | 60.23 |
| 17 | Senegal | 55.98 |
| 3 | Seychelles | 77.13 |
| 30 | Sierra Leone | 48.91 |
| 53 | Somalia | 15.24 |
| 5 | South Africa | 69.44 |
| 49 | Sudan | 33.45 |
| 29 | Swaziland | 49.43 |
| 12 | Tanzania | 59.24 |
| 43 | Togo | 40.83 |
| 8 | Tunisia | 65.81 |
| 24 | Uganda | 53.57 |
| 18 | Zambia | 55.30 |
| 51 | Zimbabwe | 31.29 |
The Ibrahim Index is compiled using indicators based on Expert Assessment (EA) or Official Data (OD).
Having a firmly embedded judicial system that is just, effective, accessible to all, administered by competent and independent judges who work independently of political influences and in a corrupt free environment and make decisions according to merit, is a major pre-requisite for ensuring safety and rule of law. Indeed consideration of safety cannot be separated from an assessment of the entrenchment of the rule of law in a state. This accords citizens the right to safety rather than the mere presence of safety with no guarantees of entitlement. This extends to include the accountability of public officials and prevention, control and elimination of corruption in the country because the legal system can easily be subverted if its enforcers are not accountable to those they serve and if they are prone to influence through financial and other considerations.
To ensure maximum progress in the efforts to promote good governance in Africa, it is imperative to see to it that safety in its holistic form and the rule of law exist concomitantly.
Salim Ahmed Salim, Former Secretary-General, Organisation of African Unity and former Prime Minister of Tanzania
Safety & Rule of Law Raw & Normalised Data Post-Outlier
IIAG 2009 Raw Data with Estimates Pre-Outlier
IIAG 2009 Raw Data Pre-Outlier
People everywhere desire to live safely and have recourse to the law when their rights are violated or they are victims of crime. This is one of the basic responsibilities of government.
The level of criminality in a country (EA).
The prevalence of violent crime, both organised and common (EA).
The prevalence of violent demonstrations and civil or labour unrest (EA).
Governmental efforts to combat human trafficking (EA).
A clustered indicator that consists of an average of the following variables:
Consideration of safety cannot be separated from an assessment of the entrenchment of the rule of law in a state.
The extent to which the legal process or the courts are subject to interference or distortion by interest groups (EA).
The extent to which there is a separation of powers within the legal system and a system of checks and balances in place (EA).
A clustered indicator that consists of an average of the following variables:
The time taken to settle a contract dispute from the time a lawsuit is filed to the date of payment (EA).
The constitutional mechanisms for the orderly transfer of power from one administration to another (EA).
Whether or not the United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions on a country (OD).
The integrity of the legal system extends to include the accountability of public officials and the level of corruption in a country. Prevalence, or lack, of corruption reflects the core of a government's commitment to its citizens.
The accountability of the executive branch of the government (and its employees) for:
To the electorate, the legislature, and the judiciary (EA).
The extent to which safeguards/sanctions exist to ensure officials perform competently (EA).
The level of vested cronyism and corruption within a country (EA).
The extent to which there are legal or political penalties for officeholders who abuse their positions (EA).
How obstructive a country's bureaucracy is. This includes the amount of red tape likely to be encountered, as well as the likelihood of encountering corrupt officials and other groups (EA).
The provisions put in place to:
Safety must also be considered in its most holistic sense which includes an absence of conflict and its consequences.
The level of domestic armed conflict in a country, or of the likelihood of future conflict (EA).
Whether the government is the primary or secondary party in armed conflict, defined as 25 or more battle deaths in a year (EA).
The number of civilian or military battle deaths resulting from war, minor conflict and non-state violence (EA).
The number of deaths (greater than 25) that occur from the use of armed force, targeted specifically at civilians, by the government or a formally organised group (EA).
The number of refugees originating from a country (OD).
The absolute numbers of internally displaced persons (OD).
The potential threat to a country's economic and political stability posed by the presence of cross-border tensions (EA).
| Ranks | Country | Safety and Rule of Law |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Algeria | 55.88 |
| 42 | Angola | 41.64 |
| 15 | Benin | 69.16 |
| 4 | Botswana | 85.05 |
| 27 | Burkina Faso | 61.86 |
| 38 | Burundi | 48.37 |
| 33 | Cameroon | 51.29 |
| 2 | Cape Verde | 89.94 |
| 48 | Central African Republic | 43.00 |
| 52 | Chad | 35.64 |
| 31 | Comoros | 59.21 |
| 41 | Congo | 44.92 |
| 50 | Congo, Democratic Rep. | 31.43 |
| 47 | Cote d'Ivoire | 37.70 |
| 36 | Djibouti | 56.02 |
| 11 | Egypt | 63.08 |
| 45 | Equatorial Guinea | 47.58 |
| 46 | Eritrea | 45.30 |
| 37 | Ethiopia | 49.85 |
| 21 | Gabon | 55.10 |
| 19 | Gambia | 57.72 |
| 7 | Ghana | 71.25 |
| 44 | Guinea | 43.74 |
| 40 | Guinea-Bissau | 46.94 |
| 22 | Kenya | 53.27 |
| 9 | Lesotho | 68.93 |
| 39 | Liberia | 45.74 |
| 23 | Libya | 52.59 |
| 13 | Madagascar | 63.41 |
| 25 | Malawi | 65.60 |
| 20 | Mali | 62.38 |
| 28 | Mauritania | 46.31 |
| 1 | Mauritius | 86.96 |
| 16 | Morocco | 61.83 |
| 26 | Mozambique | 62.47 |
| 6 | Namibia | 79.53 |
| 34 | Niger | 56.38 |
| 35 | Nigeria | 50.57 |
| 32 | Rwanda | 55.53 |
| 10 | Sao Tome and Principe | 67.51 |
| 17 | Senegal | 61.85 |
| 3 | Seychelles | 75.46 |
| 30 | Sierra Leone | 52.42 |
| 53 | Somalia | 9.06 |
| 5 | South Africa | 70.28 |
| 49 | Sudan | 23.83 |
| 29 | Swaziland | 63.31 |
| 12 | Tanzania | 64.59 |
| 43 | Togo | 55.27 |
| 8 | Tunisia | 62.54 |
| 24 | Uganda | 56.03 |
| 18 | Zambia | 66.46 |
| 51 | Zimbabwe | 28.92 |
The Ibrahim Index is compiled using indicators based on Expert Assessment (EA) or Official Data (OD).
In preparing an index illustrating outcomes in the areas of participation and human rights, it is clear that participation is much easier to assess and measure. Of course, participation encompasses and overlaps with areas of human rights, such as the right to vote, the right to a fair election, and freedom to express views on political issues and to hold government accountable for commitments made under national and international law.
When we look back at the development of the international human rights system over the past 60 years there is a significant gap in implementation which poses a problem in developing an index to measure outcomes in a comparable way in 53 countries in Africa.
Despite the present gap, and the weakness in data, I believe the Ibrahim Index is making a significant contribution. It is exerting a healthy pressure on the UN and others to develop more practical ways to compare the human rights record of African countries.
By offering the best measurements and relevant data the index can find at present, it is creating a demand - which civil society in each country should champion -for better performance measurements.
What an innovative way to enhance protection and promotion of human rights in African countries!
Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Participation & Human Rights Raw & Normalised Data Post-Outlier
IIAG 2009 Raw Data with Estimates Pre-Outlier
IIAG 2009 Raw Data Pre-Outlier
The ability of citizens to participate in the political process is a vital gauge of the legitimacy of government. Elections are the yardstick by which we can assess the level of citizen participation in public life.
The extent to which citizens have the information and freedom to participate meaningfully in the political process (EA).
The extent to which democratically elected leaders have the power to govern (EA).
The extent to which leaders are determined by free and fair general elections (EA).
The right of citizens to freely decide their own political system and leadership (EA).
The integrity of executive elections (EA).
Citizens' rights and freedoms should be guaranteed by the state, and legal recourse should be available when these rights are violated.
The likelihood of a country being accused of serious human rights violations (EA).
The electoral process including electoral laws; political pluralism and participation; and the functioning of government (EA).
Workers’ rights and freedom of assembly and association (EA).
The extent to which citizens, organisations and the mass media can express opinions freely (EA).
A clustered indicator that consists of an average of the following variables:
A clustered indicator that consists of an average of the following variables:
A clustered indicator that consists of an average of the following variables:
How many of the nine core international human rights treaties a country has ratified and submitted an initial report for (OD).
The absence of gender discrimination is crucial as women are afforded fewer rights while contributing disproportionately to family, community and economic life.
The extent to which a country has enacted institutions and programs to enforce laws and policies that:
The number of female students successfully finishing the last year of primary school (OD).
The ratio of the total enrollment rate of girls to boys in both primary and secondary education (OD).
The proportion of women aged 15 and older that are economically active (OD).
Parliamentary seats held by women (OD).
| Ranks | Country | Participation and Human Rights |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Algeria | 44.42 |
| 42 | Angola | 43.54 |
| 15 | Benin | 66.52 |
| 4 | Botswana | 72.81 |
| 27 | Burkina Faso | 55.52 |
| 38 | Burundi | 56.53 |
| 33 | Cameroon | 39.29 |
| 2 | Cape Verde | 79.58 |
| 48 | Central African Republic | 40.83 |
| 52 | Chad | 24.99 |
| 31 | Comoros | 48.53 |
| 41 | Congo | 40.64 |
| 50 | Congo, Democratic Rep. | 35.56 |
| 47 | Cote d'Ivoire | 27.84 |
| 36 | Djibouti | 32.91 |
| 11 | Egypt | 41.24 |
| 45 | Equatorial Guinea | 19.56 |
| 46 | Eritrea | 19.81 |
| 37 | Ethiopia | 35.22 |
| 21 | Gabon | 50.79 |
| 19 | Gambia | 49.78 |
| 7 | Ghana | 75.23 |
| 44 | Guinea | 36.28 |
| 40 | Guinea-Bissau | 47.62 |
| 22 | Kenya | 58.89 |
| 9 | Lesotho | 72.43 |
| 39 | Liberia | 53.96 |
| 23 | Libya | 20.36 |
| 13 | Madagascar | 66.66 |
| 25 | Malawi | 57.93 |
| 20 | Mali | 61.02 |
| 28 | Mauritania | 56.06 |
| 1 | Mauritius | 80.71 |
| 16 | Morocco | 35.91 |
| 26 | Mozambique | 63.00 |
| 6 | Namibia | 72.67 |
| 34 | Niger | 50.21 |
| 35 | Nigeria | 41.84 |
| 32 | Rwanda | 45.68 |
| 10 | Sao Tome and Principe | 64.23 |
| 17 | Senegal | 61.12 |
| 3 | Seychelles | 70.63 |
| 30 | Sierra Leone | 60.17 |
| 53 | Somalia | 12.53 |
| 5 | South Africa | 76.99 |
| 49 | Sudan | 21.59 |
| 29 | Swaziland | 32.46 |
| 12 | Tanzania | 67.55 |
| 43 | Togo | 32.63 |
| 8 | Tunisia | 41.12 |
| 24 | Uganda | 58.08 |
| 18 | Zambia | 59.69 |
| 51 | Zimbabwe | 31.99 |
The Ibrahim Index is compiled using indicators based on Expert Assessment (EA) or Official Data (OD).
Sustainable Economic Opportunity is one of the four pillars under which governance is measured for the Ibrahim Index. Freedom to participate in the creation of economic wealth is a key right for all citizens and governments have an overwhelming duty to develop an enabling framework.
This pillar seeks to measure, first, governments' abilities to manage the macro economy along sound lines to ensure broad economic development. It also seeks to measure the regulatory framework, which allows, inter alia, the wealth-creating private sector to grow within the constraints and interest of society as a whole. A third category of variables covers the availability of basic infrastructure, which in some cases is provided by the State, whilst in others by the private sector, within a system determined by governments.
The final group of indicators cover aspects of rural and environmental issues. These are of particular significance, given the large rural populations of most countries, the importance of subsistence goods together with concerns associated with environmental degradation and climate change, which may become even more acute.
Lord Cairns, former Chief Executive Officer, SG Warburg and Former Chairman, Actis Capital LL
Sustainable Economic Opportunity Raw & Normalised Data Post-Outlier
IIAG 2009 Raw Data with Estimates Pre-Outlier
IIAG 2009 Raw Data Pre-Outlier
At the macro-economic level, a government needs to provide its citizens with an enabling, stable policy environment that fosters enterprise.
The extent to which the civil service is structured to ethically and effectively design policy and deliver services (EA).
The extent to which there is a comprehensive and credible budget, linked to policy priorities, with mechanisms to ensure implementation and reporting (EA).
The total stock of currency held within banks as a proportion of the money supply in an economy (OD).
Total budget revenue as a proportion of total budget expenditure (OD).
A country's budget surplus or budget deficit as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (OD).
The short- and medium-term sustainability of fiscal policy and its impact on growth (EA).
The annual change in the consumer price index at the end of the year (OD).
The total external debt service, both paid and due, expressed as a proportion of exports of goods, non-factor services, income and workers' remittances (OD).
The period of time that imports could be paid for by a country's foreign exchange reserves (OD).
The formulation and implementation of policies and institutions that are supportive of and conducive to a flourishing private sector is an important part of a government's efforts to foster growth and prosperity.
A clustered indicator that consists of an average of the following variables:
The extent to which the government has adopted a framework that supports the emergence and development of an efficient private rural business sector (EA).
The extent to which a country's policies are conducive to free flows of investment capital (EA).
The extent of bureaucratic delay and complexity in obtaining the appropriate documentation or authorisation to engage in business activities (EA).
The time and cost of procedures that a business in the construction industry is subject to when building a warehouse (EA).
The time taken for an entrepreneur to establish, start-up and operate an industrial or commercial business (EA).
The procedural requirements and costs for exporting and importing a fixed cargo of goods by ocean transport (EA).
Infrastructure is pivotal to an efficiently, prosperous economy. Governments which facilitate the development and maintenance of the infrastructural base of the economy stimulate growth and wealth creation, and ensure improved delivery of public goods and services.
The risk that deficiencies in physical infrastructure may cause a loss of income to a country (EA).
The risk that power shortages could disrupt business activities (EA).
The number of users of portable telephones (OD).
The number of computers installed in a country (OD).
The number of internet subscribers in a country (OD).
In order to ensure sustainability of country and its economy, the extent to which governments value and prioritise the environment is key. In Africa, where 65% of the population lives in rural areas, prioritisation of rural development follows.
The extent to which environmental policies foster the protection and sustainable use of natural resources and the management of pollution (EA).
The extent to which environmental concerns are taken into account in both macro- and microeconomic policy (EA).
The institutional, legal and market framework for:
The extent to which the policy, legal and institutional framework supports the development and liberalisation of commercially-based, efficient, equitable, and accessible agricultural markets (EA).
The extent to which the policy, legal and institutional framework supports the development of a commercial rural finance sector, that is efficient, equitable and accessible to low-income populations (EA).
The extent to which the policy and legal environment enables the rural poor to organise into autonomous groups / associations or to engage in other forms of collective action (EA).
The extent to which the government emphasises the development of the agricultural and rural sector in its planning, policy-making and investment programmes (EA).
The extent to which the rural poor can express their concerns and priorities through dialogue or lobbying (EA).
| Ranks | Country | Sustainable Economic Opportunity |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Algeria | 59.63 |
| 42 | Angola | 37.05 |
| 15 | Benin | 46.96 |
| 4 | Botswana | 68.34 |
| 27 | Burkina Faso | 46.70 |
| 38 | Burundi | 35.77 |
| 33 | Cameroon | 48.33 |
| 2 | Cape Verde | 68.05 |
| 48 | Central African Republic | 27.91 |
| 52 | Chad | 28.68 |
| 31 | Comoros | 27.44 |
| 41 | Congo | 40.44 |
| 50 | Congo, Democratic Rep. | 29.93 |
| 47 | Cote d'Ivoire | 39.40 |
| 36 | Djibouti | 41.74 |
| 11 | Egypt | 62.74 |
| 45 | Equatorial Guinea | 40.63 |
| 46 | Eritrea | 31.52 |
| 37 | Ethiopia | 51.16 |
| 21 | Gabon | 46.63 |
| 19 | Gambia | 48.47 |
| 7 | Ghana | 49.65 |
| 44 | Guinea | 36.27 |
| 40 | Guinea-Bissau | 32.07 |
| 22 | Kenya | 50.49 |
| 9 | Lesotho | 50.77 |
| 39 | Liberia | 33.70 |
| 23 | Libya | 53.47 |
| 13 | Madagascar | 51.88 |
| 25 | Malawi | 43.84 |
| 20 | Mali | 49.51 |
| 28 | Mauritania | 49.98 |
| 1 | Mauritius | 80.47 |
| 16 | Morocco | 64.51 |
| 26 | Mozambique | 46.60 |
| 6 | Namibia | 61.73 |
| 34 | Niger | 43.66 |
| 35 | Nigeria | 42.65 |
| 32 | Rwanda | 47.08 |
| 10 | Sao Tome and Principe | 42.71 |
| 17 | Senegal | 50.06 |
| 3 | Seychelles | 64.51 |
| 30 | Sierra Leone | 41.32 |
| 53 | Somalia | 0.89 |
| 5 | South Africa | 62.09 |
| 49 | Sudan | 36.87 |
| 29 | Swaziland | 52.20 |
| 12 | Tanzania | 51.46 |
| 43 | Togo | 30.40 |
| 8 | Tunisia | 69.64 |
| 24 | Uganda | 50.85 |
| 18 | Zambia | 47.77 |
| 51 | Zimbabwe | 20.17 |
The Ibrahim Index is compiled using indicators based on Expert Assessment (EA) or Official Data (OD).
Human Development reflects the outcomes of investments made in the talents of the country, with a particular focus on education, health and social safety nets.
Human Development Indicators measure the efforts contributed by the individual, family, community and society as a whole. Government’s commitment to making the appropriate investment to provide equitable access to, and quality outcomes of education, training and health care systems is key to success.
In addition government has a role in creating an appropriate investment climate for innovative partnerships between public/private/civil society to ensure good and shared outcomes.
Human Development indicators provide a profile of the quality of a country’s human capital base and its ability to participate in the global knowledge economy.
Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Former Managing Director, World Bank and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town
Human Development Raw & Normalised Data Post-Outlier
IIAG 2009 Raw Data with Estimates Pre-Outlier
IIAG 2009 Raw Data Pre-Outlier
Citizens everywhere desire the ability to live long, healthy lives free from poverty. Even if government does not directly provide these services to citizens, ultimate accountability for their delivery rests with government.
HIV prevalence amongst people aged 15 to 49 (OD).
The incidence of new cases of Tuberculosis (OD).
The likelihood that a newborn baby will die before reaching the age of five, assuming that he/she is subject to current, age-specific mortality rates (OD).
A clustered indicator that consists of the average of the following variables:
The existence of the equality of opportunity/access to social safety nets that compensate for poverty and other risks (EA).
Government policies and regulations to ensure a minimum level of welfare to all people (EA).
The extent to which significant parts of society are isolated due to poverty and inequality (EA).
Education is another key service due to its importance in facilitating personal growth and access to opportunity.
The existence of solid institutions for basic, secondary and tertiary education, as well as for research and development (EA).
The number of pupils enrolled in primary school in relation to the number of primary school teachers (OD).
The number of students successfully completing the last year of primary school (OD).
The number of pupils admitted to the next level of education in a given year in relation to the number of pupils enrolled in the final grade of primary school in the previous year (OD).
The total enrolment in higher education, regardless of age (OD).
| Ranks | Country | Human Development |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Algeria | 73.51 |
| 42 | Angola | 41.83 |
| 15 | Benin | 50.16 |
| 4 | Botswana | 68.16 |
| 27 | Burkina Faso | 42.23 |
| 38 | Burundi | 40.41 |
| 33 | Cameroon | 49.07 |
| 2 | Cape Verde | 74.46 |
| 48 | Central African Republic | 28.26 |
| 52 | Chad | 30.15 |
| 31 | Comoros | 59.12 |
| 41 | Congo | 45.16 |
| 50 | Congo, Democratic Rep. | 36.08 |
| 47 | Cote d'Ivoire | 41.48 |
| 36 | Djibouti | 53.48 |
| 11 | Egypt | 73.29 |
| 45 | Equatorial Guinea | 49.79 |
| 46 | Eritrea | 51.19 |
| 37 | Ethiopia | 46.11 |
| 21 | Gabon | 63.14 |
| 19 | Gambia | 64.57 |
| 7 | Ghana | 67.72 |
| 44 | Guinea | 45.36 |
| 40 | Guinea-Bissau | 47.36 |
| 22 | Kenya | 52.31 |
| 9 | Lesotho | 52.58 |
| 39 | Liberia | 46.28 |
| 23 | Libya | 88.33 |
| 13 | Madagascar | 51.54 |
| 25 | Malawi | 44.74 |
| 20 | Mali | 45.27 |
| 28 | Mauritania | 49.90 |
| 1 | Mauritius | 83.16 |
| 16 | Morocco | 69.08 |
| 26 | Mozambique | 37.46 |
| 6 | Namibia | 61.29 |
| 34 | Niger | 36.11 |
| 35 | Nigeria | 50.77 |
| 32 | Rwanda | 45.85 |
| 10 | Sao Tome and Principe | 66.46 |
| 17 | Senegal | 50.90 |
| 3 | Seychelles | 97.91 |
| 30 | Sierra Leone | 41.72 |
| 53 | Somalia | 38.50 |
| 5 | South Africa | 68.41 |
| 49 | Sudan | 51.50 |
| 29 | Swaziland | 49.77 |
| 12 | Tanzania | 53.37 |
| 43 | Togo | 45.01 |
| 8 | Tunisia | 89.94 |
| 24 | Uganda | 49.33 |
| 18 | Zambia | 47.30 |
| 51 | Zimbabwe | 44.07 |