Enforcing contracts: Attorney fees (% of claim) by country
The attorney fees are the fees that plaintiff must advance to a local attorney in the standardized case, regardless of final reimbursement.
Countries reporting
187
Highest
155.7%
East Timor
Lowest
5.0%
Hungary
Median
17.7%
Years covered
9
2011–2019
Data points
1,702
What the numbers show
Enforcing contracts: Attorney fees (% of claim) is currently reported for 187 countries. The highest value is 155.7% in East Timor; the lowest is 5.0% in Hungary.
The median across all reporting countries is 17.7%, and the mean is 21.2%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 31.
Over the past decade 32 countries rose and 12 fell. The largest increase was in United States (up 157.5%), and the largest decrease in Sierra Leone (down 88.0%).
Enforcing contracts: Attorney fees: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Timor | 155.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Djibouti | 17.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 2 | Cambodia | 95.8% | 2019 | unchanged | rising |
| 3 | Papua New Guinea | 82.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 4 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 70.0% | 2019 | down 48.9% | falling |
| 4 | Zimbabwe | 70.0% | 2019 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 6 | Micronesia (country) | 65.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 7 | Solomon Islands | 55.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 8 | Burkina Faso | 53.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Eswatini | 52.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Malawi | 50.0% | 2019 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 11 | Myanmar | 47.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Indonesia | 46.7% | 2019 | down 58.0% | falling |
| 13 | Bangladesh | 40.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 13 | Vanuatu | 40.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 15 | Botswana | 35.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 15 | United Kingdom | 35.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 15 | Jamaica | 35.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 15 | Mozambique | 35.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 19 | Congo | 34.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Trinidad and Tobago | 30.4% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 22 | Comoros | 30.1% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 23 | Brunei | 30.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 23 | Mali | 30.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 23 | Malaysia | 30.0% | 2019 | up 48.5% | rising |
| 23 | Peru | 30.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 27 | Saint Lucia | 29.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 28 | Namibia | 29.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 29 | Fiji | 28.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 30 | Rwanda | 28.0% | 2019 | down 38.3% | falling |
| 30 | Senegal | 28.0% | 2019 | up 93.1% | rising |
| 30 | Sweden | 28.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | Laos | 27.9% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 34 | Kenya | 27.5% | 2019 | unchanged | rising |
| 35 | Palau | 27.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 36 | Marshall Islands | 26.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 37 | Liberia | 25.1% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 38 | Albania | 25.0% | 2019 | up 15.7% | rising |
| 38 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 25.0% | 2019 | up 38.9% | rising |
| 38 | Dominican Republic | 25.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 38 | Honduras | 25.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 38 | Lesotho | 25.0% | 2019 | up 152.5% | rising |
| 38 | Ukraine | 25.0% | 2019 | up 10.1% | rising |
| 44 | Lebanon | 24.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 44 | Panama | 24.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 46 | Kiribati | 24.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 47 | Afghanistan | 24.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 47 | Guyana | 24.0% | 2019 | up 8.1% | rising |
| 49 | Zambia | 23.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 50 | Chad | 23.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 51 | Sao Tome and Principe | 23.4% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 52 | Colombia | 23.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 53 | Bhutan | 23.0% | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 53 | Niger | 23.0% | 2019 | down 23.3% | falling |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | 23.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 57 | Iraq | 22.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 57 | Tonga | 22.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 59 | Angola | 22.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 60 | Grenada | 22.1% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 60 | Mexico | 22.1% | 2019 | up 10.5% | flat |
| 62 | India | 22.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Kyrgyzstan | 22.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Mauritius | 22.0% | 2019 | up 57.1% | rising |
| 62 | New Zealand | 22.0% | 2019 | up 35.0% | rising |
| 66 | Nigeria | 21.6% | 2019 | down 71.2% | volatile |
| 67 | Venezuela | 21.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Cameroon | 21.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 69 | Vietnam | 21.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 70 | Singapore | 20.9% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 71 | Dominica | 20.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 71 | Nepal | 20.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 73 | United States | 20.6% | 2019 | up 157.5% | rising |
| 74 | Sri Lanka | 20.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Burundi | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Costa Rica | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Guinea | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Haiti | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Philippines | 20.0% | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 75 | Paraguay | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Saudi Arabia | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | El Salvador | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Yemen | 20.0% | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 84 | Hong Kong | 19.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 85 | Italy | 19.0% | 2019 | down 12.8% | falling |
| 85 | Togo | 19.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 87 | Ireland | 18.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 88 | Australia | 18.5% | 2019 | up 7.6% | flat |
| 88 | Japan | 18.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 90 | Bahamas | 18.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 90 | Egypt | 18.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 90 | Georgia | 18.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 90 | Israel | 18.0% | 2019 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 90 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 18.0% | 2019 | up 31.4% | rising |
| 95 | Mauritania | 17.9% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 96 | Suriname | 17.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 97 | Antigua and Barbuda | 17.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 97 | Belize | 17.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 99 | Benin | 17.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 100 | Gambia | 17.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 100 | Palestine | 17.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 102 | Cote d'Ivoire | 16.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Azerbaijan | 16.4% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Maldives | 16.4% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 105 | North Macedonia | 16.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 105 | Nicaragua | 16.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 105 | Syria | 16.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Gabon | 16.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 109 | Libya | 16.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 110 | Qatar | 15.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 110 | Taiwan | 15.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Argentina | 15.0% | 2019 | up 36.4% | rising |
| 112 | Barbados | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Canada | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Chile | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Ecuador | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Guinea-Bissau | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Guatemala | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Kuwait | 15.0% | 2019 | up 40.2% | rising |
| 112 | Malta | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Sierra Leone | 15.0% | 2019 | down 88.0% | volatile |
| 112 | South Sudan | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Uganda | 15.0% | 2019 | down 47.6% | falling |
| 112 | Uzbekistan | 15.0% | 2019 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 112 | Samoa | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Mongolia | 14.9% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 127 | Serbia | 14.5% | 2019 | up 22.9% | rising |
| 128 | Latvia | 14.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 128 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 14.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 130 | Switzerland | 14.1% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 131 | Slovakia | 14.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 131 | Uruguay | 14.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 133 | Brazil | 13.9% | 2019 | up 10.3% | rising |
| 134 | Tunisia | 13.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 135 | Morocco | 13.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 135 | Netherlands | 13.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Austria | 13.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 138 | Czechia | 13.1% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 139 | Spain | 12.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 140 | Finland | 12.5% | 2019 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 141 | Pakistan | 12.4% | 2019 | down 25.7% | falling |
| 142 | Sudan | 12.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Armenia | 12.0% | 2019 | up 8.1% | flat |
| 143 | Belarus | 12.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Poland | 12.0% | 2019 | up 140.0% | rising |
| 143 | Turkey | 12.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 147 | Russia | 11.5% | 2019 | up 15.0% | rising |
| 148 | Montenegro | 11.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 149 | Madagascar | 11.0% | 2019 | down 44.4% | falling |
| 150 | Cyprus | 10.8% | 2019 | up 24.1% | rising |
| 151 | France | 10.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 151 | Portugal | 10.7% | 2019 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 153 | Moldova | 10.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 154 | San Marino | 10.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | United Arab Emirates | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Belgium | 10.0% | 2019 | up 3.1% | flat |
| 155 | Bulgaria | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Bahrain | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Bolivia | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Cape Verde | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Algeria | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Ethiopia | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Ghana | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Equatorial Guinea | 10.0% | 2019 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 155 | Greece | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Iran | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Oman | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Somalia | 10.0% | 2019 | — | flat |
| 155 | Seychelles | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 155 | Thailand | 10.0% | 2019 | up 8.7% | flat |
| 155 | Tanzania | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 172 | Eritrea | 9.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 172 | Estonia | 9.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 172 | South Korea | 9.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 175 | China | 8.7% | 2019 | up 45.0% | rising |
| 175 | Luxembourg | 8.7% | 2019 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 177 | Croatia | 8.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Lithuania | 8.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 179 | Kazakhstan | 8.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 179 | Tajikistan | 8.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 181 | Jordan | 8.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 181 | Norway | 8.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 183 | Romania | 7.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 184 | Slovenia | 7.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Germany | 6.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 186 | Iceland | 5.9% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 187 | Denmark | 5.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 187 | Hungary | 5.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Kosovo 25.2%
- Central African Republic 31.3%
- South Africa 22.6%
About this data
The attorney fees are the fees that plaintiff must advance to a local attorney in the standardized case, regardless of final reimbursement.