What is rule of law index in Belgium?

Rule of law index in Belgium was 0.964 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Belgium?

The highest recorded value was 0.979 in 1970.

What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Belgium?

The lowest recorded value was 0.33 in 1814.

How does Belgium rank for rule of law index?

Belgium ranks 16th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.

Is rule of law index rising or falling in Belgium?

Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Belgium 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.

Rule of Law Index in Belgium

Name: Rule of Law Index in Belgium
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Belgium: Rule of Law Index was 0.964 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.964

Change on year

down 0.7%

World rank

16th

of 173 countries

All-time high

0.979

in 1970

All-time low

0.33

in 1814

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Rule of Law Index in Belgium, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

Belgium recorded 0.964 for rule of law index in 2025.

That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, rule of law index in Belgium peaked at 0.979 in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0.33, in 1814.

Belgium ranks 16th of 173 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.795	0.795	0.795	1
1790s	0.77	0.687	0.825	10
1800s	0.699	0.699	0.699	10
1810s	0.6626	0.33	0.7	10
1820s	0.7	0.7	0.7	10
1830s	0.9581	0.929	0.965	10
1840s	0.965	0.965	0.965	10
1850s	0.965	0.965	0.965	10
1860s	0.965	0.965	0.965	10
1870s	0.965	0.965	0.965	10
1880s	0.965	0.965	0.965	10
1890s	0.965	0.965	0.965	10
1900s	0.965	0.965	0.965	10
1910s	0.9508	0.932	0.968	10
1920s	0.97	0.97	0.97	10
1930s	0.97	0.97	0.97	10
1940s	0.9554	0.936	0.974	10
1950s	0.974	0.974	0.974	10
1960s	0.9768	0.974	0.978	10
1970s	0.979	0.979	0.979	10
1980s	0.9788	0.977	0.979	10
1990s	0.976	0.974	0.979	10
2000s	0.979	0.979	0.979	10
2010s	0.9783	0.975	0.979	10
2020s	0.9723	0.964	0.976	6

Countries ranked near Belgium

13 Latvia 0.973 compare
14 Netherlands 0.969 compare
15 France 0.967 compare
17 Canada 0.963 compare
18 Japan 0.956 compare
19 United Kingdom 0.955 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for Belgium

Summer temperature anomalies 3.25 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.0177 °C (2026)
Spring temperature anomalies 1.66 °C (2026)
Winter temperature anomalies 1.84 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 145.66 2010 = 100 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4336 °C (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Democracy 7 (2025)
Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is rule of law index in Belgium?: Rule of law index in Belgium was 0.964 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Belgium?: The highest recorded value was 0.979 in 1970.
What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Belgium?: The lowest recorded value was 0.33 in 1814.
How does Belgium rank for rule of law index?: Belgium ranks 16th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.
Is rule of law index rising or falling in Belgium?: Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Belgium 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 — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Rule of Law Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,303 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.