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

Japan ranks 19th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

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

Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Japan 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 Japan

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

Japan: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index was 0.958 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.958

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

19th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.969

in 2023

All-time low

0.073

in 1790

Years of data

237

1789–2025

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

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

Analysis

Japan recorded 0.958 for individual liberties and equality before the law index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, individual liberties and equality before the law index in Japan peaked at 0.969 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.073, in 1790.

That places Japan 19th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 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	0.104	0.104	0.104	1
1790s	0.073	0.073	0.073	10
1800s	0.073	0.073	0.073	10
1810s	0.073	0.073	0.073	10
1820s	0.073	0.073	0.073	10
1830s	0.073	0.073	0.073	10
1840s	0.073	0.073	0.073	10
1850s	0.0902	0.082	0.099	10
1860s	0.119	0.105	0.245	10
1870s	0.5518	0.529	0.567	10
1880s	0.567	0.567	0.567	10
1890s	0.6064	0.592	0.664	10
1900s	0.7269	0.717	0.728	10
1910s	0.7295	0.72	0.731	10
1920s	0.7314	0.726	0.735	10
1930s	0.7124	0.707	0.726	10
1940s	0.7552	0.663	0.878	10
1950s	0.9326	0.878	0.956	10
1960s	0.9577	0.956	0.959	10
1970s	0.9654	0.959	0.967	10
1980s	0.967	0.967	0.967	10
1990s	0.967	0.967	0.967	10
2000s	0.967	0.967	0.967	10
2010s	0.9658	0.965	0.967	10
2020s	0.9585	0.949	0.969	6

Countries ranked near Japan

16 Seychelles 0.966 compare
17 Costa Rica 0.962 compare
18 Taiwan 0.961 compare
20 Australia 0.957 compare
21 Netherlands 0.95 compare
22 Italy 0.945 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for Japan

Temperature anomalies by month -0.7172 °C (2026)
Spring temperature anomalies 1.24 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.1053 °C (2026)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Free country 2 (2025)
Civil liberties rating 1 (2025)
Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
Democracy 7 (2025)
Elected parliament 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is individual liberties and equality before the law index in Japan?: Individual liberties and equality before the law index in Japan was 0.958 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 Japan?: The highest recorded value was 0.969 in 2023.
What is the lowest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in Japan?: The lowest recorded value was 0.073 in 1790.
How does Japan rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?: Japan ranks 19th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is individual liberties and equality before the law index rising or falling in Japan?: Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan 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.