Ranked 5th in Africa, 80th globally, Tanzania glitters in 2026  Good Government Index

KIGALI: TANZANIA is ranked 5^th  in Africa and 80^th  globally in the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), recording the largest overall score improvement among 23 African countries assessed since the index was launched in 2021.

The latest ranking highlights Tanzania’s progress in strengthening government institutions and improving laws and policies, despite challenges in other areas of governance.

The CGGI, now in its sixth edition, assesses government capabilities and effectiveness across 133 countries, representing 94 per cent of the world’s population. The index evaluates 35 equally weighted indicators grouped into seven pillars to help governments measure performance, identify weaknesses and learn from the experiences of other countries.

Tanzania records significant governance gains

According to the report, Tanzania’s overall score has increased every year since 2023, although its global ranking has remained between 75th and 81st over the same period.

The report attributes this pattern partly to new countries joining the index rather than faster improvements by competing countries.

Between 2021 and 2026, Tanzania recorded its largest improvement in the Robust Laws and Policies pillar among African countries, with its global position in the category rising from 89th to 85th.

The country also registered the continent’s largest score gain in Strong Institutions. However, its global ranking in this pillar fell from 92nd to 100th, indicating that other countries made faster progress.

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In the Leadership and Foresight pillar, Tanzania’s performance in the Innovation indicator improved substantially, with its ranking climbing from 83rd to 43rd.

However, Financial Stewardship and Global Influence and Reputation were the two pillars in which Tanzania recorded declines over the five-year period.

Commenting on the findings, Dinesh Naidu, Director of Knowledge at Chandler Governance Group (CGG), said Tanzania’s progress in laws, policies and institutions showed that the government was building foundations for more open and effective institutions.

He added that the next challenge was to translate these institutional improvements into progress across other areas of governance.

Mauritius leads Africa

Mauritius remains Africa’s highest-ranked country in the 2026 index, placing 55th globally.

Rwanda follows in second place on the continent at 62nd globally, ahead of Botswana at 70th, Morocco at 79th and Tanzania at 80th.

South Africa ranks sixth in Africa and 85th globally.

Despite improvements across much of the continent, the report highlights continuing governance challenges. Africa’s regional average score remains below its 2021 level, while 23 of the 35 African countries included in the 2026 index rank outside the global top 100.

No African country features among the world’s top 50.

Seven countries joined the index this year: Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Liberia and Togo.

Africa makes progress in key governance areas

The report shows that average African scores improved in six of the index’s seven pillars over the past year.

The strongest gains were recorded in Financial Stewardship, followed by Helping People Rise, which measures government outcomes that affect people’s lives.

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Naidu said these improvements suggested that stronger government capabilities were beginning to translate into practical benefits, including access to quality education and healthcare, as well as improved management of public finances.

He emphasised that sustaining the gains would be essential to achieving further progress in the coming years.

Index designed to support government reforms

The Chandler Good Government Index is intended to serve as a practical diagnostic tool rather than simply a ranking system. It helps governments identify performance gaps, monitor changes over time and compare their approaches with those of countries facing similar challenges.

The 2026 edition also found that 61 per cent of the 120 countries assessed in both 2025 and 2026 improved their scores, marking the highest annual proportion of improving countries since the index began in 2021.

However, longer-term results were less consistent. Only 43 per cent of the 104 countries tracked continuously since 2021 recorded an overall improvement.

Naidu said governments that use evidence to assess their performance and learn from other countries are better positioned to strengthen institutions and achieve meaningful improvements.

For Tanzania, maintaining its positive score trajectory while addressing weaknesses in financial management and international reputation will be important to building on its gains in the coming years.