What is rule of law index in France?

Rule of law index in France was 0.967 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.969 in 2005.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.485 in 1944.

How does France rank for rule of law index?

France ranks 15th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.

Is rule of law index rising or falling in France?

Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this France 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 France

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

France: Rule of Law Index was 0.967 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.967

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

15th

of 173 countries

All-time high

0.969

in 2005

All-time low

0.485

in 1944

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Rule of Law Index in France, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, rule of law index in France stood at 0.967.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, rule of law index in France peaked at 0.969 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.485, in 1944.

That places France 15th out of 173 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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	0.751	0.751	0.751	1
1790s	0.707	0.681	0.751	10
1800s	0.699	0.699	0.699	10
1810s	0.7265	0.699	0.754	10
1820s	0.754	0.754	0.754	10
1830s	0.753	0.753	0.753	10
1840s	0.7663	0.753	0.836	10
1850s	0.7109	0.697	0.836	10
1860s	0.7002	0.697	0.729	10
1870s	0.8532	0.819	0.863	10
1880s	0.863	0.863	0.863	10
1890s	0.863	0.863	0.863	10
1900s	0.8892	0.884	0.897	10
1910s	0.8946	0.892	0.897	10
1920s	0.896	0.896	0.896	10
1930s	0.8968	0.896	0.902	10
1940s	0.7023	0.485	0.923	10
1950s	0.9246	0.923	0.939	10
1960s	0.9407	0.939	0.956	10
1970s	0.9596	0.957	0.961	10
1980s	0.9637	0.961	0.964	10
1990s	0.9644	0.961	0.965	10
2000s	0.9662	0.965	0.969	10
2010s	0.967	0.962	0.969	10
2020s	0.9638	0.96	0.967	6

Countries ranked near France

12 Singapore 0.974 compare
13 Latvia 0.973 compare
14 Netherlands 0.969 compare
16 Belgium 0.964 compare
17 Canada 0.963 compare
18 Japan 0.956 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for France

Spring temperature anomalies 0.5862 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 3.31 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.1356 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies -0.3048 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 1.2 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 127.7 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is rule of law index in France?: Rule of law index in France was 0.967 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest rule of law index recorded in France?: The highest recorded value was 0.969 in 2005.
What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in France?: The lowest recorded value was 0.485 in 1944.
How does France rank for rule of law index?: France ranks 15th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.
Is rule of law index rising or falling in France?: Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this France 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.