International Property Rights Index 2025

The Property Rights Alliance’s 2025 International Property Rights Index (IPRI) ranks 126 countries on the strength of their legal and political environments, physical property rights, and intellectual property rights. The report finds that countries with stronger property rights enjoy higher levels of investment, innovation, and prosperity.

South Africa’s score declined to 4.915, placing it 61st globally and 3rd in Africa, signalling weakening protection for ownership and investment. While there were modest gains in legal and political indicators, declines in property registration and access to credit pulled the overall score down.

The Free Market Foundation’s Martin van Staden contributed a case-study to the IPRI, titled “Expropriation Without Compensation: The Case of South Africa and International World Practice.”