What is rule of law index in China?

Rule of law index in China was 0.209 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.359 in 1979.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.05 in 1863.

How does China rank for rule of law index?

China ranks 135th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.

Is rule of law index rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this China 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 China

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

China: Rule of Law Index was 0.209 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.209

Change on year

down 1.4%

World rank

135th

of 173 countries

All-time high

0.359

in 1979

All-time low

0.05

in 1863

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Rule of Law Index in China, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

China recorded 0.209 for rule of law index in 2025.

That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 19.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, rule of law index in China peaked at 0.359 in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0.05, in 1863.

China ranks 135th of 173 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.057	0.057	0.057	1
1790s	0.057	0.057	0.057	10
1800s	0.057	0.057	0.057	10
1810s	0.057	0.057	0.057	10
1820s	0.057	0.057	0.057	10
1830s	0.057	0.057	0.057	10
1840s	0.057	0.057	0.057	10
1850s	0.057	0.057	0.057	10
1860s	0.0521	0.05	0.057	10
1870s	0.05	0.05	0.05	10
1880s	0.05	0.05	0.05	10
1890s	0.05	0.05	0.05	10
1900s	0.0676	0.067	0.069	10
1910s	0.1234	0.069	0.141	10
1920s	0.164	0.149	0.214	10
1930s	0.2162	0.208	0.221	10
1940s	0.2078	0.197	0.261	10
1950s	0.3383	0.302	0.355	10
1960s	0.2918	0.268	0.312	10
1970s	0.2842	0.268	0.359	10
1980s	0.3318	0.327	0.349	10
1990s	0.3082	0.301	0.318	10
2000s	0.2762	0.243	0.312	10
2010s	0.2574	0.244	0.272	10
2020s	0.2268	0.209	0.238	6

Countries ranked near China

132 Eswatini 0.225 compare
133 Kazakhstan 0.217 compare
134 Uganda 0.214 compare
135 Iran 0.209 compare
137 Togo 0.207 compare
138 Iraq 0.199 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for China

Spring temperature anomalies 1.66 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.0991 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 1.15 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.34 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 2.06 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 132.6 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 0 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is rule of law index in China?: Rule of law index in China was 0.209 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest rule of law index recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 0.359 in 1979.
What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 0.05 in 1863.
How does China rank for rule of law index?: China ranks 135th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.
Is rule of law index rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China 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.