Decadal Decline in BRICS Country Governance Ratings


 
The Governance ratings of eight of the ten members of the BRICS group of countries has declined on the World Economics Governance Index over the last decade. This reflects worsening scores across data reflecting corruption, rule of law, press freedom and political rights.

Average Governance Rating Across BRICS, 2016-2026
Index: 0-100. 0=Poor, 100=As good as it gets
Source: World Economics Governance Index, 2026





Note: BRICS includes all full member states, excluding Iran due to data quality issues.

Consequently, 8 out of the 10 members (for which data is available) have had ratings remain unchanged or downgraded on the Index over that period. The largest overall declines were in Russia, followed by the UAE and India. The only country to still enjoy a positive Governance rating in 2026 is South Africa (grade B). The trend of further decline – in many countries already rated extremely poorly on the Index – reveals an increasingly alarming world for investors for whom Good Governance should be paramount.

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