Rule of Law Index in Belarus
Belarus: Rule of Law Index was 0.116 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.116
Change on year
up 22.1%
World rank
157th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.634
in 1993
All-time low
0.049
in 1825
Years of data
231
1795–2025
Rule of Law Index in Belarus, 1795–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rule of law index in Belarus is 0.116, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 22.1% on the previous year and down 53.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rule of law index in Belarus peaked at 0.634 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.049, in 1825.
Belarus 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.
Rule of Law Index in Belarus, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1795 | 0.058 | — |
| 1796 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.049 | -15.5% |
| 1826 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.062 | +26.5% |
| 1834 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.071 | +14.5% |
| 1843 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.151 | +112.7% |
| 1856 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.164 | +8.6% |
| 1862 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.285 | +73.8% |
| 1865 | 0.419 | +47.0% |
| 1866 | 0.517 | +23.4% |
| 1867 | 0.517 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.538 | +4.1% |
| 1869 | 0.538 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.58 | +7.8% |
| 1871 | 0.58 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.58 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.58 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.596 | +2.8% |
| 1875 | 0.596 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.596 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.596 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.411 | -31.0% |
| 1879 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.342 | -16.8% |
| 1882 | 0.342 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.342 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.342 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.356 | +4.1% |
| 1886 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.304 | -14.6% |
| 1901 | 0.299 | -1.6% |
| 1902 | 0.301 | +0.7% |
| 1903 | 0.301 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.299 | -0.7% |
| 1905 | 0.275 | -8.0% |
| 1906 | 0.309 | +12.4% |
| 1907 | 0.313 | +1.3% |
| 1908 | 0.334 | +6.7% |
| 1909 | 0.34 | +1.8% |
| 1910 | 0.338 | -0.6% |
| 1911 | 0.338 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.338 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.339 | +0.3% |
| 1914 | 0.331 | -2.4% |
| 1915 | 0.319 | -3.6% |
| 1916 | 0.296 | -7.2% |
| 1917 | 0.303 | +2.4% |
| 1918 | 0.145 | -52.1% |
| 1919 | 0.123 | -15.2% |
| 1920 | 0.117 | -4.9% |
| 1921 | 0.121 | +3.4% |
| 1922 | 0.135 | +11.6% |
| 1923 | 0.149 | +10.4% |
| 1924 | 0.134 | -10.1% |
| 1925 | 0.134 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.134 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.134 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.149 | +11.2% |
| 1929 | 0.149 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.148 | -0.7% |
| 1931 | 0.14 | -5.4% |
| 1932 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.129 | -7.9% |
| 1935 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.137 | +6.2% |
| 1941 | 0.138 | +0.7% |
| 1942 | 0.139 | +0.7% |
| 1943 | 0.139 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.139 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.139 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.143 | +2.9% |
| 1947 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.131 | -8.4% |
| 1949 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.126 | -3.8% |
| 1951 | 0.125 | -0.8% |
| 1952 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.138 | +10.4% |
| 1954 | 0.186 | +34.8% |
| 1955 | 0.186 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.195 | +4.8% |
| 1957 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.194 | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 0.194 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.205 | +5.7% |
| 1961 | 0.195 | -4.9% |
| 1962 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.17 | -12.8% |
| 1965 | 0.17 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.17 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.171 | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 0.168 | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 0.166 | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 0.159 | -4.2% |
| 1971 | 0.165 | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.168 | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 0.164 | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.17 | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 0.163 | -4.1% |
| 1987 | 0.186 | +14.1% |
| 1988 | 0.192 | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 0.194 | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 0.58 | +199.0% |
| 1991 | 0.576 | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 0.632 | +9.7% |
| 1993 | 0.634 | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 0.524 | -17.4% |
| 1995 | 0.491 | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 0.298 | -39.3% |
| 1997 | 0.25 | -16.1% |
| 1998 | 0.253 | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 0.266 | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 0.262 | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 0.278 | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 0.272 | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.251 | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 0.251 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.251 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.261 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 0.261 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.261 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.261 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.26 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 0.27 | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 0.251 | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 0.251 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.251 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.275 | +9.6% |
| 2017 | 0.272 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 0.279 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 0.288 | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 0.133 | -53.8% |
| 2021 | 0.095 | -28.6% |
| 2022 | 0.1 | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 0.086 | -14.0% |
| 2024 | 0.095 | +10.5% |
| 2025 | 0.116 | +22.1% |
Belarus compared with similar countries
- Belarus's 0.116 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4345, 27% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Belarus's 0.116 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.8365, 14% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1790s | 0.058 | 0.058 | 0.058 | 5 |
| 1800s | 0.058 | 0.058 | 0.058 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.058 | 0.058 | 0.058 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.0535 | 0.049 | 0.058 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.0581 | 0.049 | 0.062 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.0692 | 0.062 | 0.071 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.111 | 0.071 | 0.151 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.3457 | 0.151 | 0.538 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.5526 | 0.411 | 0.596 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.3559 | 0.342 | 0.411 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.356 | 0.356 | 0.356 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.3075 | 0.275 | 0.34 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.287 | 0.123 | 0.339 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.1356 | 0.117 | 0.149 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1342 | 0.129 | 0.148 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1379 | 0.131 | 0.143 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1664 | 0.125 | 0.195 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1805 | 0.166 | 0.205 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1644 | 0.159 | 0.165 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1731 | 0.163 | 0.194 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4504 | 0.25 | 0.634 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.262 | 0.251 | 0.278 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2658 | 0.251 | 0.288 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1042 | 0.086 | 0.133 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belarus
- 154 Russia 0.121 compare
- 155 Central African Republic 0.118 compare
- 156 Mauritania 0.117 compare
- 158 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.108 compare
- 159 Guinea 0.106 compare
- 160 Cameroon 0.086 compare
More reference data data for Belarus
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.3462 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3596 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 5.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 2.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 24.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.96 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rule of law index in Belarus?
- Rule of law index in Belarus was 0.116 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Belarus?
- The highest recorded value was 0.634 in 1993.
- What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Belarus?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.049 in 1825.
- How does Belarus rank for rule of law index?
- Belarus ranks 157th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rule of law index rising or falling in Belarus?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belarus data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Rule of Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 231 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.