Mauritius has secured the No. 1 spot on the 2025 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) for Africa for the fifth consecutive year, with Rwanda and Botswana ranking second and third regionally.
The African average remains the lowest of all regions, though 2024–2025 results show modest improvement.
At a regional launch in Pretoria, Dinesh Naidu, Director (Knowledge) at the Chandler Institute of Governance, outlined the findings before policymakers, academics, and practitioners gathered to assess Africa’s governance trajectory and the implications for public sector reform.
Now in its fifth year, the CGGI measures government capabilities and effectiveness across seven pillars and 120 countries, offering governments practical benchmarks to track progress, identify gaps, and strengthen public institutions. The 2025 regional snapshot presents a mixed but forward-looking picture for Africa.
- Regional leaders ( Africa, 2025): Mauritius (51), Rwanda (59), Botswana (61), Morocco (75), South Africa (77)
- Notable progress: Mauritius tops Africa for the fifth straight year; Rwanda highlighted as the world’s best-performing low-income country, underscoring that wealth is not a prerequisite for effective governance.
- Other highlights: Botswana has advanced judiciary quality via digital reforms; Morocco has improved data transparency and digital infrastructure; South Africa remains a relatively strong performer despite fiscal pressures.
Tanzania also stands out for notable improvement, climbing from 82nd globally in 2021 to 78th in 2025, driven by digital governance initiatives and structural reforms, including the Digital Tanzania Project and the Data Protection Act.
“Good government is built over decades, but every step forward matters,” Naidu said. “The progress seen in Africa—from digitalisation to institutional reforms—is laying the groundwork for long-term transformation.”
CGGI results show Africa’s average governance score remains the lowest of any region. Only Tanzania and Rwanda improved their rankings from 2021 to 2025, with fiscal stewardship continuing to be a key challenge amid tightening budgets and rising debt.
Despite overall headwinds, Africa’s demographic advantage offers opportunity: around 70% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is under 30, presenting a potential dividend for those governments delivering jobs, education, and inclusive growth.
- Key takeaway: The CGGI’s seven pillars—Leadership and Foresight; Robust Laws and Policies; Strong Institutions; Financial Stewardship; Attractive Marketplace; Global Influence and Reputation; and Helping People Rise—provide a practical framework for governments to diagnose gaps, share best practices, and accelerate service delivery improvements.
“Cape-to-cairo governance improvements matter,” Naidu noted. “Across Africa, governments are innovating to enhance service delivery and accountability, showing progress is possible even in a challenging global environment.”
The Chandler Institute of Governance reiterates its commitment to supporting African governments with actionable insights and peer-to-peer learning to build resilient, inclusive public institutions for sustained success.