What is rule of law index in Iran?

Rule of law index in Iran 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 Iran?

The highest recorded value was 0.472 in 1951.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.048 in 1900.

How does Iran rank for rule of law index?

Iran ranks 138th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is rule of law index rising or falling in Iran?

Over the last ten years it is down 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Iran 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 Iran

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

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

Latest (2025)

0.209

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

138th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.472

in 1951

All-time low

0.048

in 1900

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Rule of Law Index in Iran, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for rule of law index in Iran is 0.209, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 22.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, rule of law index in Iran peaked at 0.472 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.048, in 1900.

That places Iran 138th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Rule of Law Index in Iran, year by year

Annual values for Rule of Law Index in Iran, 1789 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1789	0.065	—
1790	0.065	+0.0%
1791	0.065	+0.0%
1792	0.065	+0.0%
1793	0.065	+0.0%
1794	0.065	+0.0%
1795	0.065	+0.0%
1796	0.065	+0.0%
1797	0.065	+0.0%
1798	0.065	+0.0%
1799	0.065	+0.0%
1800	0.065	+0.0%
1801	0.065	+0.0%
1802	0.065	+0.0%
1803	0.065	+0.0%
1804	0.065	+0.0%
1805	0.065	+0.0%
1806	0.065	+0.0%
1807	0.065	+0.0%
1808	0.065	+0.0%
1809	0.065	+0.0%
1810	0.065	+0.0%
1811	0.065	+0.0%
1812	0.065	+0.0%
1813	0.065	+0.0%
1814	0.065	+0.0%
1815	0.065	+0.0%
1816	0.065	+0.0%
1817	0.065	+0.0%
1818	0.065	+0.0%
1819	0.065	+0.0%
1820	0.065	+0.0%
1821	0.065	+0.0%
1822	0.065	+0.0%
1823	0.065	+0.0%
1824	0.065	+0.0%
1825	0.065	+0.0%
1826	0.065	+0.0%
1827	0.065	+0.0%
1828	0.059	-9.2%
1829	0.059	+0.0%
1830	0.059	+0.0%
1831	0.059	+0.0%
1832	0.059	+0.0%
1833	0.059	+0.0%
1834	0.059	+0.0%
1835	0.059	+0.0%
1836	0.059	+0.0%
1837	0.059	+0.0%
1838	0.059	+0.0%
1839	0.059	+0.0%
1840	0.059	+0.0%
1841	0.059	+0.0%
1842	0.059	+0.0%
1843	0.059	+0.0%
1844	0.059	+0.0%
1845	0.059	+0.0%
1846	0.059	+0.0%
1847	0.059	+0.0%
1848	0.059	+0.0%
1849	0.059	+0.0%
1850	0.059	+0.0%
1851	0.059	+0.0%
1852	0.059	+0.0%
1853	0.059	+0.0%
1854	0.059	+0.0%
1855	0.059	+0.0%
1856	0.059	+0.0%
1857	0.059	+0.0%
1858	0.059	+0.0%
1859	0.059	+0.0%
1860	0.059	+0.0%
1861	0.059	+0.0%
1862	0.059	+0.0%
1863	0.059	+0.0%
1864	0.059	+0.0%
1865	0.059	+0.0%
1866	0.059	+0.0%
1867	0.059	+0.0%
1868	0.059	+0.0%
1869	0.059	+0.0%
1870	0.059	+0.0%
1871	0.059	+0.0%
1872	0.059	+0.0%
1873	0.059	+0.0%
1874	0.059	+0.0%
1875	0.059	+0.0%
1876	0.059	+0.0%
1877	0.059	+0.0%
1878	0.059	+0.0%
1879	0.059	+0.0%
1880	0.059	+0.0%
1881	0.059	+0.0%
1882	0.059	+0.0%
1883	0.059	+0.0%
1884	0.059	+0.0%
1885	0.059	+0.0%
1886	0.059	+0.0%
1887	0.059	+0.0%
1888	0.059	+0.0%
1889	0.059	+0.0%
1890	0.059	+0.0%
1891	0.059	+0.0%
1892	0.059	+0.0%
1893	0.059	+0.0%
1894	0.059	+0.0%
1895	0.059	+0.0%
1896	0.059	+0.0%
1897	0.059	+0.0%
1898	0.059	+0.0%
1899	0.059	+0.0%
1900	0.048	-18.6%
1901	0.048	+0.0%
1902	0.048	+0.0%
1903	0.048	+0.0%
1904	0.048	+0.0%
1905	0.048	+0.0%
1906	0.094	+95.8%
1907	0.103	+9.6%
1908	0.1	-2.9%
1909	0.097	-3.0%
1910	0.108	+11.3%
1911	0.108	+0.0%
1912	0.108	+0.0%
1913	0.108	+0.0%
1914	0.108	+0.0%
1915	0.108	+0.0%
1916	0.108	+0.0%
1917	0.108	+0.0%
1918	0.108	+0.0%
1919	0.108	+0.0%
1920	0.109	+0.9%
1921	0.109	+0.0%
1922	0.109	+0.0%
1923	0.123	+12.8%
1924	0.141	+14.6%
1925	0.21	+48.9%
1926	0.221	+5.2%
1927	0.221	+0.0%
1928	0.221	+0.0%
1929	0.221	+0.0%
1930	0.221	+0.0%
1931	0.221	+0.0%
1932	0.221	+0.0%
1933	0.221	+0.0%
1934	0.26	+17.6%
1935	0.26	+0.0%
1936	0.26	+0.0%
1937	0.26	+0.0%
1938	0.26	+0.0%
1939	0.26	+0.0%
1940	0.263	+1.2%
1941	0.286	+8.7%
1942	0.397	+38.8%
1943	0.397	+0.0%
1944	0.397	+0.0%
1945	0.397	+0.0%
1946	0.397	+0.0%
1947	0.397	+0.0%
1948	0.397	+0.0%
1949	0.397	+0.0%
1950	0.458	+15.4%
1951	0.472	+3.1%
1952	0.472	+0.0%
1953	0.452	-4.2%
1954	0.38	-15.9%
1955	0.373	-1.8%
1956	0.373	+0.0%
1957	0.373	+0.0%
1958	0.373	+0.0%
1959	0.373	+0.0%
1960	0.381	+2.1%
1961	0.381	+0.0%
1962	0.402	+5.5%
1963	0.417	+3.7%
1964	0.425	+1.9%
1965	0.425	+0.0%
1966	0.425	+0.0%
1967	0.425	+0.0%
1968	0.438	+3.1%
1969	0.438	+0.0%
1970	0.438	+0.0%
1971	0.438	+0.0%
1972	0.438	+0.0%
1973	0.438	+0.0%
1974	0.438	+0.0%
1975	0.438	+0.0%
1976	0.438	+0.0%
1977	0.44	+0.5%
1978	0.44	+0.0%
1979	0.359	-18.4%
1980	0.246	-31.5%
1981	0.225	-8.5%
1982	0.225	+0.0%
1983	0.202	-10.2%
1984	0.227	+12.4%
1985	0.237	+4.4%
1986	0.237	+0.0%
1987	0.233	-1.7%
1988	0.233	+0.0%
1989	0.243	+4.3%
1990	0.278	+14.4%
1991	0.278	+0.0%
1992	0.278	+0.0%
1993	0.278	+0.0%
1994	0.292	+5.0%
1995	0.292	+0.0%
1996	0.299	+2.4%
1997	0.351	+17.4%
1998	0.379	+8.0%
1999	0.372	-1.8%
2000	0.351	-5.6%
2001	0.351	+0.0%
2002	0.351	+0.0%
2003	0.351	+0.0%
2004	0.342	-2.6%
2005	0.267	-21.9%
2006	0.258	-3.4%
2007	0.258	+0.0%
2008	0.258	+0.0%
2009	0.242	-6.2%
2010	0.233	-3.7%
2011	0.235	+0.9%
2012	0.235	+0.0%
2013	0.251	+6.8%
2014	0.253	+0.8%
2015	0.268	+5.9%
2016	0.27	+0.7%
2017	0.253	-6.3%
2018	0.245	-3.2%
2019	0.241	-1.6%
2020	0.236	-2.1%
2021	0.213	-9.7%
2022	0.196	-8.0%
2023	0.185	-5.6%
2024	0.209	+13.0%
2025	0.209	+0.0%

Iran compared with similar countries

Iran's 0.209 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4345, 48% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Iran's 0.209 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.321, 65% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.065	0.065	0.065	1
1790s	0.065	0.065	0.065	10
1800s	0.065	0.065	0.065	10
1810s	0.065	0.065	0.065	10
1820s	0.0638	0.059	0.065	10
1830s	0.059	0.059	0.059	10
1840s	0.059	0.059	0.059	10
1850s	0.059	0.059	0.059	10
1860s	0.059	0.059	0.059	10
1870s	0.059	0.059	0.059	10
1880s	0.059	0.059	0.059	10
1890s	0.059	0.059	0.059	10
1900s	0.0682	0.048	0.103	10
1910s	0.108	0.108	0.108	10
1920s	0.1685	0.109	0.221	10
1930s	0.2444	0.221	0.26	10
1940s	0.3725	0.263	0.397	10
1950s	0.4099	0.373	0.472	10
1960s	0.4157	0.381	0.438	10
1970s	0.4305	0.359	0.44	10
1980s	0.2308	0.202	0.246	10
1990s	0.3097	0.278	0.379	10
2000s	0.3029	0.242	0.351	10
2010s	0.2484	0.233	0.27	10
2020s	0.208	0.185	0.236	6

Countries ranked near Iran

135 Eswatini 0.225 compare
136 Kazakhstan 0.217 compare
137 Uganda 0.214 compare
138 China 0.209 compare
140 Togo 0.207 compare
141 Iraq 0.199 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for Iran

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 11.62 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.84 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 46.54 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 109.46 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.3 (2050)

All data for Iran →

Frequently asked questions

What is rule of law index in Iran?: Rule of law index in Iran 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 Iran?: The highest recorded value was 0.472 in 1951.
What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Iran?: The lowest recorded value was 0.048 in 1900.
How does Iran rank for rule of law index?: Iran ranks 138th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is rule of law index rising or falling in Iran?: Over the last ten years it is down 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iran 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).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Rule of Law Index in Iran. 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/iran-islamic-rep/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/rule-of-law-index/iran-islamic-rep/">Rule of Law Index in Iran</a> — Statizoid

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.