How does China rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?

China ranks 157th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is individual liberties and equality before the law index rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this China data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in China

Name: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in China
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

China: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index was 0.227 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.227

Change on year

down 1.7%

World rank

157th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.299

in 2009

All-time low

0.016

in 1967

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in China, 1789–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2025, individual liberties and equality before the law index in China stood at 0.227.

The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, individual liberties and equality before the law index in China peaked at 0.299 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.016, in 1967.

China ranks 157th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.058	0.058	0.058	1
1790s	0.058	0.058	0.058	10
1800s	0.058	0.058	0.058	10
1810s	0.058	0.058	0.058	10
1820s	0.058	0.058	0.058	10
1830s	0.058	0.058	0.058	10
1840s	0.058	0.058	0.058	10
1850s	0.0535	0.053	0.058	10
1860s	0.056	0.053	0.059	10
1870s	0.059	0.059	0.059	10
1880s	0.059	0.059	0.059	10
1890s	0.058	0.058	0.058	10
1900s	0.064	0.058	0.069	10
1910s	0.1481	0.067	0.176	10
1920s	0.1705	0.15	0.178	10
1930s	0.1704	0.164	0.174	10
1940s	0.1558	0.09	0.164	10
1950s	0.0452	0.025	0.055	10
1960s	0.0236	0.016	0.03	10
1970s	0.0377	0.016	0.173	10
1980s	0.2339	0.224	0.236	10
1990s	0.2445	0.225	0.264	10
2000s	0.2911	0.27	0.299	10
2010s	0.2724	0.241	0.292	10
2020s	0.2193	0.208	0.231	6

Countries ranked near China

154 Central African Republic 0.239 compare
155 Guinea 0.232 compare
156 Cuba 0.228 compare
158 Laos 0.22 compare
159 Belarus 0.207 compare
160 Cambodia 0.203 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for China

Temperature anomalies by month 1.15 °C (2026)
Spring temperature anomalies 1.66 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.0991 °C (2026)
Winter temperature anomalies 2.06 °C (2025)
Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.34 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 132.6 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Civil liberties rating 6 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is individual liberties and equality before the law index in China?: Individual liberties and equality before the law index in China was 0.227 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 0.299 in 2009.
What is the lowest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 0.016 in 1967.
How does China rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?: China ranks 157th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is individual liberties and equality before the law index rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,494 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which extent to which citizens enjoy physical integrity rights, freedoms of religion, of movement, and from forced labor, as well as access to justice, laws are transparent, and public administration is impartial.