Morocco ranks fourth in Africa and 79th globally in the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI). It also recorded the largest improvement in Data Capability among African countries assessed between 2021 and 2026.

Morocco’s result reflects a broader pattern across Africa, where 71% of the countries assessed in both 2025 and 2026 recorded higher overall scores. Africa was the second best-performing region for governance progress this 2026, although it remains the lowest-scoring region overall. This highlights the continued challenge of translating improvements in government capabilities into better outcomes for citizens.

“This year, Africa’s strongest gains came in Financial Stewardship, followed by Helping People Rise, the CGGI’s outcomes pillar. This signals that stronger government capabilities are beginning to translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives, from access to quality education and healthcare to the public finances that fund them. The task now is to sustain that progress over the coming years,” says Dinesh Naidu, Director (Knowledge) at Chandler Governance Group (CGG).

Now in its sixth edition, the CGGI assesses government capabilities and effectiveness across 133 countries, representing 94% of the world’s population, up from 120 countries in 2025. It measures 35 equally weighted indicators across seven pillars, providing governments with a framework to benchmark performance, identify gaps and learn from the experience of other countries.

Of the 120 countries assessed in both 2025 and 2026, 61% recorded higher scores, representing the highest annual share of countries improving since the Index launched in 2021. However, longer-term progress has been less consistent, with only 43% of the 104 countries tracked since 2021 recording an overall improvement.

Morocco’s own gains

Between 2021 and 2026, nearly every African country assessed across the period improved its Data Capability score, with Morocco recording the region’s largest gain. Data Capability reflects the ability of governments to generate, manage and use reliable data to inform decisions, monitor performance and improve public services. Morocco also posted Africa’s largest score gain in Leadership and Foresight, climbing from 63rd to 43rd globally, ahead of every other African country assessed since 2021.

The picture is not uniform across the board. Morocco’s overall global rank has declined from 66th in 2021 to 79th this year, even as its overall score ticked up in the most recent year. Most of that drop, 12 out of 13 places, are due to new countries joining the Index since 2021, and Morocco’s position has held broadly steady. At the pillar level, five of Morocco’s seven pillars weakened in score terms since 2021 — Robust Laws and Policies, Financial Stewardship, Attractive Marketplace, Global Influence and Reputation and Helping People Rise — with Leadership and Foresight and Strong Institutions the only pillars to improve.

“Morocco’s gains in Data Capability and Leadership & Foresight reflect real investment in the systems that let governments plan ahead and manage delivery. The task now is to carry that momentum into the areas where Morocco’s own performance has stalled or dipped,” says Naidu.

Africa’s leading governments

Mauritius remains Africa’s highest-ranked country, placing 55th globally, followed by Rwanda (62nd) place, Botswana (70th), Morocco (79th) and Tanzania (80th). South Africa ranks sixth on the continent and 85th place globally.

Across Africa, average scores improved in six of the seven CGGI pillars over the past year. Despite these gains, Africa’s regional average remains below its 2021 level. Of the 35 African countries included in the 2026 Index, 23 rank outside the global top 100 and none ranks among the global top 50. Seven African countries joined the Index this year: Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Liberia and Togo.

A tool for learning and improvement

The CGGI is designed as a diagnostic tool, helping governments identify gaps, track progress over time and learn from peers facing similar constraints. Rather than treating rankings as an end in themselves, the Index provides evidence that can inform reform priorities and strengthen government capabilities.

“Every country faces its own governance challenges and is driven by varying priorities. Governments that are willing to take stock of the evidence and learn from peers to strengthen their institutions are well placed to achieve real improvements,” concludes Naidu.