Guyana slips in global rule of law ranking as freedoms decline

(Kaieteur News) – Guyana’s rule of law score has declined, with restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and civic participation emerging among the concerns highlighted in the 2026 Rule of Law Index released by the World Justice Project (WJP).

According to the report, Guyana ranks 81st out of 143 countries worldwide, after its overall score fell by less than one per cent. The country also ranks 18th out of 32 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 50th out of 51 high-income countries.

The findings form part of a broader global decline in the rule of law, with the WJP reporting that 62 per cent of countries experienced a deterioration in their scores, continuing a trend in which declines outnumber improvements. The report warns that authoritarian practices have become entrenched in many countries, with government interference and declining freedoms posing growing threats to democratic accountability and institutional independence.