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
191
Highest
155.7%
East Timor
Lowest
5.0%
Hungary
Median
18.0%
Years covered
9
2011–2019
Data points
1,711
What the numbers show
Enforcing contracts: Attorney fees (% of claim) is currently reported for 191 countries. The highest value is 155.7% in East Timor; the lowest is 5.0% in Hungary.
The median across all reporting countries is 18.0%, and the mean is 21.3%.
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 |
| 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 |
| 20 | Central African Republic | 31.3% | 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 | Kosovo | 25.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 37 | Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) | 25.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 39 | Liberia | 25.1% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 40 | Albania | 25.0% | 2019 | up 15.7% | rising |
| 40 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 25.0% | 2019 | up 38.9% | rising |
| 40 | Dominican Republic | 25.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 40 | Honduras | 25.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 40 | Lesotho | 25.0% | 2019 | up 152.5% | rising |
| 40 | Ukraine | 25.0% | 2019 | up 10.1% | rising |
| 46 | Lebanon | 24.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 46 | Panama | 24.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 48 | Kiribati | 24.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 49 | Afghanistan | 24.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 49 | Guyana | 24.0% | 2019 | up 8.1% | rising |
| 51 | Zambia | 23.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 52 | Chad | 23.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 53 | Sao Tome and Principe | 23.4% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 54 | Colombia | 23.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 55 | Bhutan | 23.0% | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 55 | Niger | 23.0% | 2019 | down 23.3% | falling |
| 55 | Puerto Rico | 23.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 58 | South Africa | 22.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 59 | Iraq | 22.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 59 | Tonga | 22.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Angola | 22.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Grenada | 22.1% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Mexico | 22.1% | 2019 | up 10.5% | flat |
| 64 | India | 22.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 64 | Kyrgyzstan | 22.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 64 | Mauritius | 22.0% | 2019 | up 57.1% | rising |
| 64 | New Zealand | 22.0% | 2019 | up 35.0% | rising |
| 68 | Nigeria | 21.6% | 2019 | down 71.2% | volatile |
| 69 | Venezuela | 21.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 70 | Cameroon | 21.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 71 | Vietnam | 21.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Singapore | 20.9% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 73 | Dominica | 20.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 73 | Nepal | 20.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | United States | 20.6% | 2019 | up 157.5% | rising |
| 76 | Sri Lanka | 20.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 77 | Burundi | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 77 | Costa Rica | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 77 | Guinea | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 77 | Haiti | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 77 | Philippines | 20.0% | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 77 | Paraguay | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 77 | Saudi Arabia | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 77 | El Salvador | 20.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 77 | Yemen | 20.0% | 2019 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 86 | Hong Kong | 19.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 87 | Italy | 19.0% | 2019 | down 12.8% | falling |
| 87 | Togo | 19.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 89 | Ireland | 18.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 90 | Australia | 18.5% | 2019 | up 7.6% | flat |
| 90 | Japan | 18.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 92 | Bahamas | 18.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 92 | Egypt | 18.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 92 | Georgia | 18.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 92 | Israel | 18.0% | 2019 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 92 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 18.0% | 2019 | up 31.4% | rising |
| 97 | Mauritania | 17.9% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 98 | Suriname | 17.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 99 | Antigua and Barbuda | 17.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 99 | Belize | 17.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 101 | Benin | 17.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 102 | Djibouti | 17.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 102 | Gambia | 17.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 102 | Palestine | 17.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 105 | Cote d'Ivoire | 16.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Azerbaijan | 16.4% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Maldives | 16.4% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | North Macedonia | 16.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Nicaragua | 16.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Syria | 16.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 111 | Gabon | 16.2% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 112 | Libya | 16.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 113 | Qatar | 15.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 113 | Taiwan | 15.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Argentina | 15.0% | 2019 | up 36.4% | rising |
| 115 | Barbados | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Canada | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Chile | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Ecuador | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Guinea-Bissau | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Guatemala | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Kuwait | 15.0% | 2019 | up 40.2% | rising |
| 115 | Malta | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Sierra Leone | 15.0% | 2019 | down 88.0% | volatile |
| 115 | South Sudan | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Uganda | 15.0% | 2019 | down 47.6% | falling |
| 115 | Uzbekistan | 15.0% | 2019 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 115 | Samoa | 15.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Mongolia | 14.9% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 130 | Serbia | 14.5% | 2019 | up 22.9% | rising |
| 131 | Latvia | 14.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 131 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 14.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 133 | Switzerland | 14.1% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 134 | Slovakia | 14.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 134 | Uruguay | 14.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 136 | Brazil | 13.9% | 2019 | up 10.3% | rising |
| 137 | Tunisia | 13.8% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 138 | Morocco | 13.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 138 | Netherlands | 13.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 140 | Austria | 13.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 141 | Czechia | 13.1% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 142 | Spain | 12.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Finland | 12.5% | 2019 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 144 | Pakistan | 12.4% | 2019 | down 25.7% | falling |
| 145 | Sudan | 12.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 146 | Armenia | 12.0% | 2019 | up 8.1% | flat |
| 146 | Belarus | 12.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 146 | Poland | 12.0% | 2019 | up 140.0% | rising |
| 146 | Turkey | 12.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 150 | Russia | 11.5% | 2019 | up 15.0% | rising |
| 151 | Montenegro | 11.3% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 152 | Madagascar | 11.0% | 2019 | down 44.4% | falling |
| 153 | Cyprus | 10.8% | 2019 | up 24.1% | rising |
| 154 | France | 10.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 154 | Portugal | 10.7% | 2019 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 156 | Moldova | 10.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | San Marino | 10.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | United Arab Emirates | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Belgium | 10.0% | 2019 | up 3.1% | flat |
| 158 | Bulgaria | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Bahrain | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Bolivia | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Cape Verde | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Algeria | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Ethiopia | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Ghana | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Equatorial Guinea | 10.0% | 2019 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 158 | Greece | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Iran | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Oman | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Somalia | 10.0% | 2019 | — | flat |
| 158 | Seychelles | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Thailand | 10.0% | 2019 | up 8.7% | flat |
| 158 | Tanzania | 10.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 175 | Eritrea | 9.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 175 | Estonia | 9.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 175 | South Korea | 9.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 178 | China | 8.7% | 2019 | up 45.0% | rising |
| 178 | Luxembourg | 8.7% | 2019 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 180 | Croatia | 8.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 180 | Lithuania | 8.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 182 | Kazakhstan | 8.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 182 | Tajikistan | 8.5% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 184 | Jordan | 8.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 184 | Norway | 8.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 186 | Romania | 7.7% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 187 | Slovenia | 7.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Germany | 6.6% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 189 | Iceland | 5.9% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 190 | Denmark | 5.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 190 | Hungary | 5.0% | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
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.