Regional Insights: Middle East, Central & West Asia

Countries: 13 | Average Country Score: 0.505 | Median Country Rank: 58

The Middle East, Central & West Asia region comprises 13 ranked countries, with a total population of about 300 million and an average GDP per capita of US $17,400.

There is wide variance in the performance of countries within the region. The UAE—the best performing in the region and one of the biggest rising stars globally—is the region’s only representative in the top 10 countries in CGGI 2025. The region also includes Iran (113^th) and Lebanon (115^th), which lie at the other end of the ranking table.

In 2025, two countries—the UAE, and new CGGI entrant, Kuwait—share the top spot in the Country Budget Surplus indicator.

The last year was a generally good one for the region’s countries. Except for Israel, every country improved in their CGGI score between 2024 and 2025.

Taking a longer term perspective, from 2021 to 2025, the regional picture is mixed. The average country score for the region improved moderately. But the overall improvement was driven largely by the Middle East sub‑region. Only four countries—Georgia, Jordan, Tajikistan, and the UAE—had improved scores over this time period.

Regional performance trends: The Middle East sub‑region stood out with the average score for its seven constituent countries improving substantially between 2021 and 2025. They had broader and robust gains across five pillars, notably in Strong Institutions and Financial Stewardship. The three countries from the Central Asia sub‑region had relatively stable scores between 2021 to 2025, while West Asia’s trio of countries declined slightly on average, with score improvements in just three pillars.

Pillar trends: Strong Institutions stands out as the region’s best-performing pillar between 2021 and 2025, buoyed by gains in Data Capability. Both Financial Stewardship and Helping People Rise also showed sustained improvements. However, the region’s performance in Robust Laws & Policies and Attractive Marketplace declined moderately.

Data Trends

Rising star Tajikistan recorded substantial progress in Financial Stewardship over 2021–2025. The country has taken some concrete steps in this area. For example, it completed a Finance Sector and Fiscal Management Improvement Financial Programme in 2024, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank.¹ 

Jordan has recorded notable progress in Data Capability (+7 ranks) between 2021 and 2025, as it implements plans for digital transformation in public administration, and pursues data-driven policymaking, in line with its Economic Modernisation Vision 2033.²

Kazakhstan has recorded significant improvement in Non-Discrimination. This is in line with legislative reforms to enhance human rights protections and promote gender and social equality, including a 2023 Presidential Decree mandating anti-discrimination laws and a dedicated unit within the National Centre for Human Rights to tackle discrimination.³

Endnotes

1. Asian Development Bank. (2024). Financial Sector and Fiscal Management Improvement Program (Subprograms 1 and 2): Completion Report. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/51066/51066-001-51066-003-pcr-en.pdf
2. Economic Modernisation Vision. (n.d.) https://www.jordanvision.jo/en
3. Zhovtis, Y. & Marinin, S. (24 April 2024). Kazakhstan’s Long Fight against Discrimination. Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. https://www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/51939/kazakhstans-long-fight-against-discrimination