Afghanistan has been ranked 142nd out of 143 nations and jurisdictions in the 2026 Rule of Law Index released by the World Justice Project (WJP), making it the second-worst-performing country in the world for rule of law, trailing only Venezuela. The ranking, reported on 28 October 2026, underscores the steep institutional collapse the country has experienced since the Taliban seized power in August 2021.

How the Index Is Measured

The WJP index evaluates countries across eight components: absence of corruption, constraints on government powers, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice. The rankings are drawn from surveys of 215,000 households and 3,400 legal practitioners and experts, collectively representing jurisdictions that cover approximately 95 per cent of the world's population.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Denmark, Norway, and Finland claimed the top three spots respectively, while Haiti ranked 141st — one place above Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's Scores Across Categories

Afghanistan recorded some of its weakest performances in fundamental rights and order and security, ranking 140th in both categories. It ranked 138th in civil justice, 137th in regulatory enforcement, 135th in criminal justice, and 131st in both absence of corruption and open government. Its relatively less dire standing was in constraints on government powers, where it ranked 125th — still among the lowest globally.

Press Freedom Under the Taliban

The index findings align with broader assessments of deteriorating freedoms in Afghanistan. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) stated in August 2026 that the Taliban has effectively turned Afghanistan into 'a prison for information' over the five years since it took control. According to RSF, the Taliban has issued more than 20 national directives and several provincial decrees systematically dismantling press freedom.

In January 2026, the Taliban reportedly adopted a Code of Criminal Procedure for its courts — the text of which became public only through a leak. Although the code does not explicitly mention the press, it offers no protection to media professionals and leaves them exposed to severe legal penalties, including imprisonment. Critically, the code criminalises criticism of Taliban leadership and punishes any contact with government opponents.

'Journalism is increasingly throttled as criticism of the regime is forbidden, women face sweeping restrictions, political debate has been silenced, and broadcasting images of living beings is banned. Reporters Without Borders calls for an end to this crackdown,' the organisation stated.

Celia Mercier, head of the RSF South Asia Desk, said: 'In five years, the Taliban have methodically turned Afghanistan into a prison for information. Every new directive further shrinks the space for journalists and independent media. The ban on criticism is now written into law, formally codifying censorship. Women journalists have been all but erased, debate has been silenced, and every independent voice is prosecuted. By criminalising media professionals, the de facto authorities are seeking absolute control over the flow of information.'

Broader Context

This is not the first time Afghanistan has ranked near the bottom of global governance indices. Since the Taliban's takeover, the country has consistently appeared at the lowest tiers of press freedom, gender equality, and anti-corruption rankings. The WJP index adds rule of law to that growing list, offering a composite, multi-dimensional picture of institutional failure that goes beyond any single metric.

International human rights organisations and foreign governments have repeatedly called on the Taliban to reverse its restrictive directives, but those appeals have thus far produced no measurable change in policy. With the new Criminal Procedure Code now in force, further tightening of civil and media space appears likely in the months ahead.