What is rule of law index in Bulgaria?

Rule of law index in Bulgaria was 0.56 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.796 in 1998.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.181 in 1839.

How does Bulgaria rank for rule of law index?

Bulgaria ranks 88th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.

Is rule of law index rising or falling in Bulgaria?

Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria

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

Bulgaria: Rule of Law Index was 0.56 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.56

Change on year

down 10.8%

World rank

88th

of 173 countries

All-time high

0.796

in 1998

All-time low

0.181

in 1839

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Rule of Law Index in Bulgaria, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, rule of law index in Bulgaria stood at 0.56.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.8% on the previous year and down 21.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, rule of law index in Bulgaria peaked at 0.796 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.181, in 1839.

That places Bulgaria 88th out of 173 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.226	0.226	0.226	1
1790s	0.226	0.226	0.226	10
1800s	0.2232	0.211	0.226	10
1810s	0.213	0.213	0.213	10
1820s	0.213	0.213	0.213	10
1830s	0.2098	0.181	0.213	10
1840s	0.212	0.212	0.212	10
1850s	0.2114	0.21	0.212	10
1860s	0.216	0.21	0.24	10
1870s	0.2957	0.191	0.543	10
1880s	0.4457	0.422	0.477	10
1890s	0.492	0.442	0.542	10
1900s	0.5429	0.542	0.543	10
1910s	0.5423	0.539	0.543	10
1920s	0.5396	0.519	0.56	10
1930s	0.5364	0.504	0.57	10
1940s	0.3878	0.241	0.524	10
1950s	0.2779	0.274	0.288	10
1960s	0.274	0.274	0.274	10
1970s	0.28	0.28	0.28	10
1980s	0.2731	0.265	0.28	10
1990s	0.751	0.692	0.796	10
2000s	0.7748	0.713	0.796	10
2010s	0.6972	0.633	0.738	10
2020s	0.6703	0.56	0.791	6

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

85 Ghana 0.568 compare
86 Malawi 0.567 compare
87 Dominican Republic 0.564 compare
89 Georgia 0.543 compare
90 Sierra Leone 0.535 compare
91 Honduras 0.526 compare
91 Morocco 0.526 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for Bulgaria

Spring temperature anomalies 0.2116 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 1.08 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 1.39 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.44 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 1.98 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 162.5 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is rule of law index in Bulgaria?: Rule of law index in Bulgaria was 0.56 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Bulgaria?: The highest recorded value was 0.796 in 1998.
What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Bulgaria?: The lowest recorded value was 0.181 in 1839.
How does Bulgaria rank for rule of law index?: Bulgaria ranks 88th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.
Is rule of law index rising or falling in Bulgaria?: Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Bulgaria 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.