Africa Records Second-Highest Governance Gains but Remains Lowest-Ranked Region

October 30, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

Africa recorded the second-highest governance progress among global regions in 2026, with 71 percent of countries assessed in consecutive editions of the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) improving their scores, although the continent remained the lowest-scoring region overall.

The findings highlight a gap between annual improvements in government performance and the continent's longer-term governance position. Of the 35 African countries included in the 2026 index, 23 ranked outside the global top 100, while none made it into the top 50.

The continent's average scores improved in six of the index's seven pillars over the past year. However, its regional average remained below the level recorded in 2021.

Mauritius ranked highest in Africa at 55th globally, followed by Rwanda at 62nd, Botswana at 70th, Morocco at 79th and Tanzania at 80th. South Africa placed sixth on the continent and 85th globally.

Africa's strongest improvements over the past year were recorded in Financial Stewardship, followed by Helping People Rise, the index's outcomes pillar, which assesses government performance in areas including education and healthcare.

"This signals that stronger government capabilities are beginning to translate into tangible improvements in people's lives, from access to quality education and healthcare to the public finances that fund them. The task now is to sustain that progress over the coming years," said Dinesh Naidu, director of knowledge at Chandler Governance Group.

The annual improvement comes against a mixed longer-term performance. While 71 percent of African countries assessed in both 2025 and 2026 increased their overall scores, the index found that only 43 percent of the 104 countries tracked continuously since 2021 recorded an overall improvement.

The 2026 edition assessed 133 countries, up from 120 in 2025, representing 94 percent of the world's population. Seven African countries joined this year's assessment: Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Liberia and Togo.

Source: FSX Business News