Mauritius ranks second in African governance index
The nation maintains its strong institutional standing but sees a decline in its overall score over a decade.
Mauritius has retained its second-place position in the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), scoring 75.0 out of 100 for the 2016-2025 period. This score places the island nation significantly above the continental average of 50.1 and the Eastern Africa average of 47.5. It ranks just behind Seychelles (78.6) and ahead of Cape Verde (70.3).
Despite its high ranking, the report highlights a net decline of 1.9 points in Mauritius's governance score over the decade, placing its trajectory in the 'Bouncing Back' category. This overall decrease, which saw Seychelles overtake Mauritius for the top spot after an 8.3-point increase, is attributed to erosions in security, rule of law, participation, rights, and inclusion. Areas like media freedom and civil society space have seen their margins shrink.
The IIAG report reveals that 30 African countries improved their governance scores between 2016 and 2025, with the continent's average rising by 0.8 points to 50.1. However, Mauritius is among six top-ranked nations whose 2025 score is lower than their 2016 score. Advances in telecommunications, internet access, and port infrastructure remain key strengths for the island.
Why it mattersMauritius's governance performance affects its citizens' rights, freedoms, and participation in public life.