Rule of Law Index by country
Central estimate of the extent to which the government complies with the law, courts are independent, laws transparent, justice accessible, corruption absent, and the bureaucracy is impartial.
Countries reporting
176
Highest
0.997
Denmark
Lowest
0.008
Nicaragua
Median
0.5675
Years covered
237
1789–2025
Data points
30,303
What the numbers show
Rule of Law Index is currently reported for 176 countries. The highest value is 0.997 in Denmark; the lowest is 0.008 in Nicaragua.
The median across all reporting countries is 0.5675, and the mean is 0.542.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 125.
Over the past decade 80 countries rose and 93 fell. The largest increase was in Syria (up 840.0%), and the largest decrease in Nicaragua (down 91.2%).
Rule of Law Index: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark | 0.997 | 2025 | down 0.1% | flat |
| 2 | Switzerland | 0.995 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 3 | Germany | 0.991 | 2025 | down 0.3% | rising |
| 4 | Australia | 0.99 | 2025 | up 0.3% | rising |
| 5 | New Zealand | 0.989 | 2025 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 5 | Sweden | 0.989 | 2025 | down 0.3% | rising |
| 7 | Norway | 0.986 | 2025 | down 0.9% | rising |
| 8 | Estonia | 0.985 | 2025 | down 0.1% | volatile |
| 8 | Finland | 0.985 | 2025 | down 0.7% | rising |
| 10 | Ireland | 0.983 | 2025 | up 0.5% | rising |
| 10 | Iceland | 0.983 | 2025 | up 0.1% | rising |
| 12 | Luxembourg | 0.979 | 2025 | up 0.2% | rising |
| 13 | Seychelles | 0.976 | 2025 | up 17.4% | rising |
| 14 | Singapore | 0.974 | 2025 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 15 | Latvia | 0.973 | 2025 | up 1.8% | volatile |
| 16 | Netherlands | 0.969 | 2025 | down 1.3% | rising |
| 17 | France | 0.967 | 2025 | down 0.2% | rising |
| 18 | Belgium | 0.964 | 2025 | down 1.5% | rising |
| 19 | Canada | 0.963 | 2025 | down 1.8% | rising |
| 20 | Japan | 0.956 | 2025 | up 0.2% | rising |
| 21 | United Kingdom | 0.955 | 2025 | down 2.3% | rising |
| 22 | Chile | 0.951 | 2025 | up 0.1% | rising |
| 23 | Spain | 0.947 | 2025 | down 2.1% | rising |
| 24 | Czechia | 0.945 | 2025 | up 6.4% | falling |
| 24 | Uruguay | 0.945 | 2025 | down 2.1% | rising |
| 26 | Costa Rica | 0.935 | 2025 | down 0.7% | rising |
| 27 | Austria | 0.932 | 2025 | down 3.8% | rising |
| 28 | Barbados | 0.927 | 2025 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 29 | United States | 0.924 | 2025 | down 5.8% | rising |
| 30 | Lithuania | 0.92 | 2025 | down 4.6% | volatile |
| 31 | South Korea | 0.917 | 2025 | up 10.0% | volatile |
| 31 | Taiwan | 0.917 | 2025 | up 7.1% | volatile |
| 33 | Slovenia | 0.9 | 2025 | down 4.2% | falling |
| 34 | Israel | 0.889 | 2025 | down 4.2% | volatile |
| 35 | Portugal | 0.887 | 2025 | down 7.8% | rising |
| 36 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0.886 | 2025 | up 1.8% | flat |
| 37 | Cyprus | 0.88 | 2025 | down 2.1% | rising |
| 38 | Poland | 0.879 | 2025 | down 4.5% | volatile |
| 39 | Bhutan | 0.871 | 2025 | down 4.9% | rising |
| 40 | Italy | 0.865 | 2025 | down 3.5% | rising |
| 41 | Brazil | 0.862 | 2025 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 42 | Jamaica | 0.847 | 2025 | down 2.5% | rising |
| 43 | Malta | 0.83 | 2025 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 44 | Sri Lanka | 0.829 | 2025 | up 25.6% | falling |
| 45 | Botswana | 0.822 | 2025 | down 5.5% | rising |
| 45 | Vanuatu | 0.822 | 2025 | up 7.9% | falling |
| 47 | Namibia | 0.817 | 2025 | down 5.3% | rising |
| 48 | Greece | 0.808 | 2025 | down 9.4% | rising |
| 49 | Suriname | 0.803 | 2025 | up 5.5% | falling |
| 50 | Croatia | 0.802 | 2025 | down 1.7% | rising |
| 51 | Cape Verde | 0.798 | 2025 | down 6.4% | volatile |
| 52 | Gambia | 0.796 | 2025 | up 243.1% | falling |
| 53 | Mauritius | 0.792 | 2025 | up 8.0% | flat |
| 54 | Moldova | 0.789 | 2025 | up 55.3% | volatile |
| 55 | Palestine | 0.785 | 1948 | unchanged | flat |
| 56 | Jordan | 0.774 | 2025 | up 31.0% | rising |
| 57 | Benin | 0.77 | 2025 | up 32.3% | rising |
| 58 | Maldives | 0.763 | 2025 | up 240.6% | volatile |
| 59 | Hong Kong | 0.756 | 2025 | down 17.6% | rising |
| 60 | Montenegro | 0.754 | 2025 | up 9.9% | rising |
| 61 | Colombia | 0.749 | 2025 | down 1.4% | rising |
| 61 | Fiji | 0.749 | 2025 | up 15.6% | falling |
| 63 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0.742 | 2025 | up 0.4% | rising |
| 64 | Slovakia | 0.727 | 2025 | down 10.7% | falling |
| 65 | East Timor | 0.717 | 2025 | up 9.8% | rising |
| 66 | Lesotho | 0.716 | 2025 | up 19.1% | falling |
| 67 | Tanzania | 0.712 | 2025 | up 2.0% | rising |
| 68 | Malaysia | 0.698 | 2025 | up 58.3% | falling |
| 69 | Guatemala | 0.695 | 2025 | up 62.8% | falling |
| 70 | Romania | 0.694 | 2025 | down 13.2% | volatile |
| 70 | South Africa | 0.694 | 2025 | up 1.2% | rising |
| 72 | Panama | 0.692 | 2025 | up 15.1% | rising |
| 73 | Kuwait | 0.691 | 2025 | up 14.0% | rising |
| 73 | Senegal | 0.691 | 2025 | down 10.3% | rising |
| 75 | Solomon Islands | 0.669 | 2025 | up 16.1% | flat |
| 76 | Nepal | 0.662 | 2025 | up 8.2% | volatile |
| 77 | Zambia | 0.654 | 2025 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 78 | Kenya | 0.64 | 2025 | up 5.8% | rising |
| 79 | United Arab Emirates | 0.638 | 2025 | down 9.8% | rising |
| 80 | Oman | 0.613 | 2025 | down 3.3% | rising |
| 81 | Hungary | 0.605 | 2025 | down 12.6% | rising |
| 82 | Tunisia | 0.596 | 2025 | down 24.2% | volatile |
| 83 | Albania | 0.592 | 2025 | up 7.4% | rising |
| 83 | Peru | 0.592 | 2025 | down 20.3% | volatile |
| 85 | Niger | 0.578 | 2025 | down 10.5% | rising |
| 86 | Argentina | 0.577 | 2025 | up 8.3% | flat |
| 87 | Qatar | 0.573 | 2025 | up 8.9% | volatile |
| 88 | Ghana | 0.568 | 2025 | down 0.2% | falling |
| 89 | Malawi | 0.567 | 2025 | up 1.2% | rising |
| 90 | Dominican Republic | 0.564 | 2025 | up 50.8% | volatile |
| 91 | Bulgaria | 0.56 | 2025 | down 21.5% | rising |
| 92 | Georgia | 0.543 | 2025 | down 31.8% | volatile |
| 93 | Sierra Leone | 0.535 | 2025 | up 75.4% | falling |
| 94 | Honduras | 0.526 | 2025 | up 99.2% | volatile |
| 94 | Morocco | 0.526 | 2025 | up 22.3% | volatile |
| 96 | Guyana | 0.52 | 2025 | down 17.9% | falling |
| 97 | Papua New Guinea | 0.511 | 2025 | up 8.5% | rising |
| 98 | Mongolia | 0.483 | 2025 | down 18.4% | rising |
| 99 | Burkina Faso | 0.482 | 2025 | down 32.6% | falling |
| 100 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.462 | 2025 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 101 | Armenia | 0.453 | 2025 | up 91.1% | volatile |
| 102 | Mali | 0.421 | 2025 | up 10.5% | falling |
| 103 | Gabon | 0.416 | 2025 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 103 | Thailand | 0.416 | 2025 | up 36.4% | rising |
| 105 | India | 0.397 | 2025 | down 26.3% | rising |
| 106 | Saudi Arabia | 0.396 | 2025 | up 42.4% | rising |
| 107 | Cote d'Ivoire | 0.395 | 2025 | down 31.1% | rising |
| 108 | Paraguay | 0.391 | 2025 | up 2.9% | volatile |
| 109 | Ukraine | 0.387 | 2025 | up 73.5% | rising |
| 110 | Philippines | 0.386 | 2025 | down 34.8% | rising |
| 111 | Angola | 0.381 | 2025 | up 197.7% | falling |
| 112 | Rwanda | 0.377 | 2025 | down 27.4% | rising |
| 113 | Ecuador | 0.372 | 2025 | up 7.5% | volatile |
| 114 | North Macedonia | 0.368 | 2025 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 115 | Serbia | 0.367 | 2025 | down 30.5% | rising |
| 116 | Liberia | 0.36 | 2025 | down 4.0% | falling |
| 117 | Mexico | 0.355 | 2025 | down 26.5% | rising |
| 118 | Kyrgyzstan | 0.353 | 2025 | down 2.8% | falling |
| 119 | Laos | 0.346 | 2025 | up 14.2% | rising |
| 120 | Indonesia | 0.338 | 2025 | down 43.2% | volatile |
| 121 | Egypt | 0.321 | 2025 | down 13.9% | flat |
| 122 | Vietnam | 0.319 | 2025 | down 4.8% | rising |
| 123 | Ethiopia | 0.315 | 2025 | down 0.9% | volatile |
| 124 | Bangladesh | 0.311 | 2025 | up 127.0% | falling |
| 125 | Djibouti | 0.295 | 2025 | down 0.7% | rising |
| 126 | Mozambique | 0.29 | 2025 | down 37.6% | rising |
| 127 | Lebanon | 0.289 | 2025 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 127 | Nigeria | 0.289 | 2025 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 129 | Syria | 0.282 | 2025 | up 840.0% | volatile |
| 130 | Bolivia | 0.281 | 2025 | down 32.3% | rising |
| 131 | Vatican | 0.276 | 1870 | up 14.5% | flat |
| 132 | Pakistan | 0.261 | 2025 | up 4.4% | falling |
| 133 | Algeria | 0.25 | 2025 | down 7.7% | falling |
| 134 | Bahrain | 0.245 | 2025 | up 15.6% | rising |
| 135 | Eswatini | 0.225 | 2025 | down 23.7% | falling |
| 136 | Kazakhstan | 0.217 | 2025 | up 25.4% | volatile |
| 137 | Uganda | 0.214 | 2025 | down 35.3% | falling |
| 138 | China | 0.209 | 2025 | down 19.9% | volatile |
| 138 | Iran | 0.209 | 2025 | down 22.0% | volatile |
| 140 | Togo | 0.207 | 2025 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 141 | Iraq | 0.199 | 2025 | up 9.3% | rising |
| 142 | Congo | 0.182 | 2025 | up 19.7% | falling |
| 143 | Zimbabwe | 0.177 | 2025 | down 43.1% | falling |
| 144 | Comoros | 0.175 | 2025 | down 40.5% | falling |
| 145 | Sudan | 0.174 | 2025 | up 120.3% | falling |
| 146 | Haiti | 0.171 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 147 | Guinea-Bissau | 0.169 | 2025 | down 42.9% | falling |
| 148 | Somalia | 0.168 | 2025 | up 43.6% | volatile |
| 149 | Turkey | 0.157 | 2025 | down 57.7% | volatile |
| 150 | Madagascar | 0.148 | 2025 | down 46.8% | volatile |
| 151 | Uzbekistan | 0.147 | 2025 | up 194.0% | flat |
| 152 | Libya | 0.125 | 2025 | down 44.4% | volatile |
| 153 | Cuba | 0.123 | 2025 | down 8.2% | falling |
| 154 | Russia | 0.121 | 2025 | down 41.3% | volatile |
| 155 | Central African Republic | 0.118 | 2025 | down 37.6% | volatile |
| 156 | Mauritania | 0.117 | 2025 | down 40.3% | falling |
| 157 | Belarus | 0.116 | 2025 | down 53.8% | volatile |
| 158 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 0.108 | 2025 | up 47.9% | volatile |
| 159 | Guinea | 0.106 | 2025 | down 38.7% | falling |
| 160 | Cameroon | 0.086 | 2025 | down 11.3% | falling |
| 161 | Afghanistan | 0.084 | 2025 | down 47.5% | falling |
| 162 | Burundi | 0.083 | 2025 | up 16.9% | falling |
| 163 | El Salvador | 0.082 | 2025 | down 83.1% | rising |
| 164 | South Sudan | 0.076 | 2025 | up 46.2% | falling |
| 165 | Cambodia | 0.068 | 2025 | down 40.4% | volatile |
| 166 | Yemen | 0.065 | 2025 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 167 | Eritrea | 0.064 | 2025 | up 25.5% | volatile |
| 168 | Myanmar | 0.062 | 2025 | down 87.2% | volatile |
| 169 | Azerbaijan | 0.053 | 2025 | up 71.0% | volatile |
| 169 | Turkmenistan | 0.053 | 2025 | up 15.2% | volatile |
| 171 | Equatorial Guinea | 0.046 | 2025 | down 11.5% | volatile |
| 172 | Tajikistan | 0.039 | 2025 | up 18.2% | volatile |
| 173 | North Korea | 0.033 | 2025 | up 3.1% | volatile |
| 174 | Chad | 0.016 | 2025 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 175 | Venezuela | 0.009 | 2025 | down 69.0% | volatile |
| 176 | Nicaragua | 0.008 | 2025 | down 91.2% | volatile |
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which the government complies with the law, courts are independent, laws transparent, justice accessible, corruption absent, and the bureaucracy is impartial.