The 2025 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) has ranked Mauritius as the continent’s best-governed nation, followed closely by Rwanda and Botswana, according to a press release issued today.
Compiled by the Chandler Institute of Governance, the annual Index evaluates the capabilities and effectiveness of 120 governments worldwide across seven key pillars, including leadership, service delivery, and accountability.
While Africa’s average score remains the lowest of all global regions, the 2025 report notes “modest improvement” compared to the previous year. Dinesh Naidu, Director (Knowledge) at the Chandler Institute, emphasized during the regional launch in Pretoria that although significant work remains, the trajectory appears positive.
“As a region, Africa still has significant work to do in improving the quality of governance,” notes Naidu. “However, the recent progress recorded suggests an upward trajectory. Even in a challenging global environment, high performance African countries are making governance advances that can inspire peers across the continent.”
The launch event brought together policymakers, academics, and public sector practitioners, who discussed how the Index provides practical benchmarks for strengthening governance and public institutions across the continent.
In the 2025 rankings, Mauritius (51), Rwanda (59), Botswana (61), Morocco (75), and South Africa (77) emerged as the top five regional performers. While Mauritius remains the continent’s highest-ranked country for a fifth consecutive year, Rwanda stood out as the world’s best-performing low-income country, showing that national wealth is not necessarily a pre-requisite for effective government.
Botswana has improved its judiciary quality through digitalisation reforms in recent years, while Morrocco has made notable strides in data transparency and digital infrastructure. South Africa, despite fiscal pressures, remains one of the continent’s stronger performers and a key reference point for institutional capacity.
“South Africa continues to demonstrate real strengths in the areas of Robust Laws and Policies, as well as Strong Institutions, which help it remain among Africa’s top five performers,” says Naidu. “At the same time, persistent fiscal pressures and challenges in social outcomes highlight the importance of strengthening delivery in areas such as employment and income distribution. South Africa has the frameworks in place – it now needs to focus on turning this capability into more inclusive and tangible results for citizens.”
Although outside the continental top five, Tanzania has recorded the most improvement of any African country since the Index was first published in 2021, rising from 82nd to 78th globally. In recent years, Tanzania’s government has expanded digital governance initiatives and introduced structural reforms to improve administrative efficiency and service delivery.
The government’s Digital Tanzania Project is laying a foundation for technology‑driven governance solutions, while new regulatory frameworks, such as the Data Protection Act, seek to enhance security in the digital space.
“Good government is built over decades, but every step forward matters. The achievements we see in these African countries today – from digitalisation to reforms in public institutions – are building blocks for long-term transformation,” says Naidu.
Now in its fifth year, the CGGI is designed not just as a scorecard, but as a diagnostic tool, enabling governments to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement across seven governance pillars. These pillars span both capabilities (such as ethical leadership and foresight) and real-world outcomes (such as public service quality and accountability).
As Africa grapples with ongoing governance challenges, the modest improvement reflected in this year’s CGGI suggests a cautiously optimistic future. For emerging democracies and institutional innovators alike, the Index offers a roadmap for enhancing governance quality—encouraging progress even amid persistent regional disparities.
“The Chandler Good Government Index is about recognising progress, fostering peer-to-peer learning, and inspiring improvements. We see it as a practical guide for governments committed to building long-term capabilities and improving service delivery,” says Naidu.
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