What is rule of law index in Ethiopia?

Rule of law index in Ethiopia was 0.315 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.368 in 2020.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.076 in 1789.

How does Ethiopia rank for rule of law index?

Ethiopia ranks 123rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is rule of law index rising or falling in Ethiopia?

Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia

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

Ethiopia: Rule of Law Index was 0.315 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.315

Change on year

down 1.3%

World rank

123rd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.368

in 2020

All-time low

0.076

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Rule of Law Index in Ethiopia, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

Ethiopia recorded 0.315 for rule of law index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, rule of law index in Ethiopia peaked at 0.368 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.076, in 1789.

Ethiopia ranks 123rd of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Rule of Law Index in Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Rule of Law Index in Ethiopia, 1789 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1789	0.076	—
1790	0.076	+0.0%
1791	0.076	+0.0%
1792	0.076	+0.0%
1793	0.076	+0.0%
1794	0.076	+0.0%
1795	0.076	+0.0%
1796	0.076	+0.0%
1797	0.076	+0.0%
1798	0.076	+0.0%
1799	0.076	+0.0%
1800	0.076	+0.0%
1801	0.076	+0.0%
1802	0.076	+0.0%
1803	0.076	+0.0%
1804	0.076	+0.0%
1805	0.076	+0.0%
1806	0.076	+0.0%
1807	0.076	+0.0%
1808	0.076	+0.0%
1809	0.076	+0.0%
1810	0.076	+0.0%
1811	0.076	+0.0%
1812	0.076	+0.0%
1813	0.076	+0.0%
1814	0.076	+0.0%
1815	0.076	+0.0%
1816	0.076	+0.0%
1817	0.076	+0.0%
1818	0.076	+0.0%
1819	0.076	+0.0%
1820	0.076	+0.0%
1821	0.076	+0.0%
1822	0.076	+0.0%
1823	0.076	+0.0%
1824	0.076	+0.0%
1825	0.076	+0.0%
1826	0.076	+0.0%
1827	0.076	+0.0%
1828	0.076	+0.0%
1829	0.076	+0.0%
1830	0.076	+0.0%
1831	0.076	+0.0%
1832	0.076	+0.0%
1833	0.076	+0.0%
1834	0.076	+0.0%
1835	0.076	+0.0%
1836	0.076	+0.0%
1837	0.076	+0.0%
1838	0.076	+0.0%
1839	0.076	+0.0%
1840	0.076	+0.0%
1841	0.076	+0.0%
1842	0.076	+0.0%
1843	0.076	+0.0%
1844	0.076	+0.0%
1845	0.076	+0.0%
1846	0.076	+0.0%
1847	0.076	+0.0%
1848	0.076	+0.0%
1849	0.076	+0.0%
1850	0.076	+0.0%
1851	0.076	+0.0%
1852	0.076	+0.0%
1853	0.076	+0.0%
1854	0.076	+0.0%
1855	0.076	+0.0%
1856	0.076	+0.0%
1857	0.076	+0.0%
1858	0.076	+0.0%
1859	0.076	+0.0%
1860	0.076	+0.0%
1861	0.076	+0.0%
1862	0.076	+0.0%
1863	0.076	+0.0%
1864	0.076	+0.0%
1865	0.076	+0.0%
1866	0.076	+0.0%
1867	0.076	+0.0%
1868	0.076	+0.0%
1869	0.076	+0.0%
1870	0.076	+0.0%
1871	0.076	+0.0%
1872	0.076	+0.0%
1873	0.076	+0.0%
1874	0.076	+0.0%
1875	0.076	+0.0%
1876	0.076	+0.0%
1877	0.076	+0.0%
1878	0.076	+0.0%
1879	0.076	+0.0%
1880	0.076	+0.0%
1881	0.076	+0.0%
1882	0.076	+0.0%
1883	0.076	+0.0%
1884	0.076	+0.0%
1885	0.076	+0.0%
1886	0.076	+0.0%
1887	0.076	+0.0%
1888	0.076	+0.0%
1889	0.076	+0.0%
1890	0.076	+0.0%
1891	0.076	+0.0%
1892	0.076	+0.0%
1893	0.076	+0.0%
1894	0.076	+0.0%
1895	0.076	+0.0%
1896	0.076	+0.0%
1897	0.076	+0.0%
1898	0.076	+0.0%
1899	0.076	+0.0%
1900	0.083	+9.2%
1901	0.083	+0.0%
1902	0.083	+0.0%
1903	0.083	+0.0%
1904	0.083	+0.0%
1905	0.083	+0.0%
1906	0.083	+0.0%
1907	0.083	+0.0%
1908	0.083	+0.0%
1909	0.083	+0.0%
1910	0.083	+0.0%
1911	0.083	+0.0%
1912	0.083	+0.0%
1913	0.083	+0.0%
1914	0.083	+0.0%
1915	0.083	+0.0%
1916	0.083	+0.0%
1917	0.088	+6.0%
1918	0.088	+0.0%
1919	0.088	+0.0%
1920	0.088	+0.0%
1921	0.088	+0.0%
1922	0.088	+0.0%
1923	0.088	+0.0%
1924	0.088	+0.0%
1925	0.088	+0.0%
1926	0.088	+0.0%
1927	0.088	+0.0%
1928	0.088	+0.0%
1929	0.088	+0.0%
1930	0.088	+0.0%
1931	0.094	+6.8%
1932	0.094	+0.0%
1933	0.094	+0.0%
1934	0.094	+0.0%
1935	0.094	+0.0%
1936	0.089	-5.3%
1937	0.089	+0.0%
1938	0.089	+0.0%
1939	0.089	+0.0%
1940	0.089	+0.0%
1941	0.092	+3.4%
1942	0.133	+44.6%
1943	0.133	+0.0%
1944	0.133	+0.0%
1945	0.133	+0.0%
1946	0.133	+0.0%
1947	0.133	+0.0%
1948	0.126	-5.3%
1949	0.126	+0.0%
1950	0.126	+0.0%
1951	0.126	+0.0%
1952	0.126	+0.0%
1953	0.126	+0.0%
1954	0.126	+0.0%
1955	0.122	-3.2%
1956	0.122	+0.0%
1957	0.122	+0.0%
1958	0.122	+0.0%
1959	0.122	+0.0%
1960	0.122	+0.0%
1961	0.124	+1.6%
1962	0.123	-0.8%
1963	0.123	+0.0%
1964	0.123	+0.0%
1965	0.123	+0.0%
1966	0.123	+0.0%
1967	0.123	+0.0%
1968	0.132	+7.3%
1969	0.132	+0.0%
1970	0.128	-3.0%
1971	0.128	+0.0%
1972	0.128	+0.0%
1973	0.129	+0.8%
1974	0.15	+16.3%
1975	0.156	+4.0%
1976	0.164	+5.1%
1977	0.164	+0.0%
1978	0.164	+0.0%
1979	0.164	+0.0%
1980	0.172	+4.9%
1981	0.172	+0.0%
1982	0.172	+0.0%
1983	0.172	+0.0%
1984	0.172	+0.0%
1985	0.172	+0.0%
1986	0.172	+0.0%
1987	0.187	+8.7%
1988	0.187	+0.0%
1989	0.187	+0.0%
1990	0.202	+8.0%
1991	0.313	+55.0%
1992	0.333	+6.4%
1993	0.351	+5.4%
1994	0.351	+0.0%
1995	0.317	-9.7%
1996	0.317	+0.0%
1997	0.317	+0.0%
1998	0.317	+0.0%
1999	0.317	+0.0%
2000	0.317	+0.0%
2001	0.317	+0.0%
2002	0.317	+0.0%
2003	0.317	+0.0%
2004	0.317	+0.0%
2005	0.317	+0.0%
2006	0.318	+0.3%
2007	0.342	+7.5%
2008	0.335	-2.0%
2009	0.325	-3.0%
2010	0.328	+0.9%
2011	0.332	+1.2%
2012	0.335	+0.9%
2013	0.33	-1.5%
2014	0.32	-3.0%
2015	0.318	-0.6%
2016	0.311	-2.2%
2017	0.31	-0.3%
2018	0.342	+10.3%
2019	0.357	+4.4%
2020	0.368	+3.1%
2021	0.35	-4.9%
2022	0.341	-2.6%
2023	0.292	-14.4%
2024	0.319	+9.2%
2025	0.315	-1.3%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

Ethiopia's 0.315 is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.174, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Ethiopia's 0.315 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.3685, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.076	0.076	0.076	1
1790s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1800s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1810s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1820s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1830s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1840s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1850s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1860s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1870s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1880s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1890s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1900s	0.083	0.083	0.083	10
1910s	0.0845	0.083	0.088	10
1920s	0.088	0.088	0.088	10
1930s	0.0914	0.088	0.094	10
1940s	0.1231	0.089	0.133	10
1950s	0.124	0.122	0.126	10
1960s	0.1248	0.122	0.132	10
1970s	0.1475	0.128	0.164	10
1980s	0.1765	0.172	0.187	10
1990s	0.3135	0.202	0.351	10
2000s	0.3222	0.317	0.342	10
2010s	0.3283	0.31	0.357	10
2020s	0.3308	0.292	0.368	6

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

120 Indonesia 0.338 compare
121 Egypt 0.321 compare
122 Vietnam 0.319 compare
124 Bangladesh 0.311 compare
125 Djibouti 0.295 compare
126 Mozambique 0.29 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for Ethiopia

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is rule of law index in Ethiopia?: Rule of law index in Ethiopia was 0.315 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Ethiopia?: The highest recorded value was 0.368 in 2020.
What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Ethiopia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.076 in 1789.
How does Ethiopia rank for rule of law index?: Ethiopia ranks 123rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is rule of law index rising or falling in Ethiopia?: Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ethiopia 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.

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Rule of Law Index in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 28 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/rule-of-law-index/ethiopia/

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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: 18 September 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.