Rule of Law Index in Panama
Panama: Rule of Law Index was 4.75 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rule of Law Index in Panama, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rule of law index in Panama is 4.75, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.5% on the previous year and down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rule of law index in Panama peaked at 6.25 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 4.75, in 2025.
That places Panama 53rd out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Rule of Law Index in Panama, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 | — |
| 2007 | 6.25 | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 6.25 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 5.5 | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 6 | +9.1% |
| 2017 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 5.5 | -8.3% |
| 2023 | 5.25 | -4.5% |
| 2025 | 4.75 | -9.5% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 4.75 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7, 68% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Panama's 4.75 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.25, 90% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.17 | 6 | 6.25 | 3 |
| 2010s | 5.9 | 5.5 | 6 | 5 |
| 2020s | 5.17 | 4.75 | 5.5 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More reference data data for Panama
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1446 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.6179 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.9793 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0285 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.9793 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4849 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2267 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1553 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rule of law index in Panama?
- Rule of law index in Panama was 4.75 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 6.25 in 2007.
- What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.75 in 2025.
- How does Panama rank for rule of law index?
- Panama ranks 53rd out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rule of law index rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Rule of Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Indicates the extent to which political power is separated, the judiciary is independent, office abuse is prosecuted, and civil rights are enforced.