Insight of the Day

Major Falls in Governance in Key Eastern European Countries


 
21 July 2026
 
Across the past decade, Russia, Belarus, Hungary and Poland have all seen major falls in their ratings on the World Economics Governance Index. A major fall is defined as declining by 10 or more points on the Index.

Eastern European Governance Scores 2016-2026
Source: World Economics Governance Index

Country

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

2026

Russia

27.3

25.4

27.5

17.6

15.1

13.8

Belarus

27.8

30.3

31.2

19.7

15.4

16.0

Ukraine

44.1

46.5

47.8

39.9

45.8

44.7

Hungary

64.3

61.8

59.8

53.2

55.7

53.8

Bulgaria

56.9

64.5

64.2

54.0

58.5

54.7

Moldova

47.8

49.4

49.3

53.2

57.2

56.0

Romania

67.1

67.1

65.5

63.0

64.6

64.6

Slovak Republic

74.0

70.5

70.7

71.7

70.5

68.2

Poland

75.3

71.3

69.7

64.6

66.7

69.2

Czechia

77.9

77.3

75.5

76.0

77.1

79.8

Country

2016

2020

2026

Russia

27.3

17.6

13.8

Belarus

27.8

19.7

16.0

Ukraine

44.1

39.9

44.7

Hungary

64.3

53.2

53.8

Bulgaria

56.9

54.0

54.7

Moldova

47.8

53.2

56.0

Romania

67.1

63.0

64.6

Slovak Republic

74.0

71.7

68.2

Poland

75.3

64.6

69.2

Czechia

77.9

76.0

79.8
Source: World Economics Governance Index, 2026

Note: World Economics Governance Index (0 = extremely poor quality to 100 = as good as it gets).
The table uses the UN Statistical Division’s definition of eastern Europe.

The grading of countries is linked to these ratings on the Index. Consequently, Hungary was demoted to C-grade in 2020, and Bulgaria was more recently demoted in 2025. Russia and Belarus remain E-grade and now sit at the lowest extremity of the World Economics Governance Index.

 


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